To have called in sick in order to sort things (house) out?

[goandhohoho]

It’s probably too late as I’ve done it now and it’s more complex than the title indicates.

I actually don’t think I am very well. I have terrible insomnia - was woken at around midnight last night and I just couldn’t get back to sleep. I eventually did so at around 5 but then had to get up at half six.

I have two very young children - one is 3 and the other is seventeen months. I am frantically trying to meet their needs, keep the house in some semblance of order, work myself and spin all the plates and I can’t. The house is a mess and it feels like no matter how much I clean and tidy it, it is a mess.

So I rang in sick today. Not a total lie but equally not really the truth. I don’t know if it was reasonable or not.

It's a bit feeble but if you don't make a habit of it, it's fine as a one-off.

As a one off I wouldn't worry! Call it a mental health day and get stuff sorted.

It sounds like you needed to take the day for your mental health. I wouldn’t overthink it. Make sure you get some rest too as your wellbeing is really important

It kind of depends if you have left colleagues in the lurch, has someone had to cover you, are you letting any clients down etc? Otherwise as a one off finr.

That definitely counts as feeling unwell. No need to ask for validation. Take care and take it gently

Sounds like you need it for your mental health, tbh 💐

I didn’t expect everyone to be so nice about it 😂 there are just so many things that need sorting and I just need a day so very much. (Actually I need a week but clearly that would be unreasonable.)

I work in HR, the definition is that you are not fit for work. Sleep deprivation, physical and/or mental fatigue and feeling overwhelmed are legitimate reasons why a person may not feel well enough to work.

It’s fine that you are trying to tackle the reasons you’re feeling like this using today’s time. It’s not like some people I had to tackle who used sick like holiday or even worked in another job when they were meant to be on shift for us. You’re not taking the mick.

We have 5 personal days we can take per year for things like that - doesn't come out of annual leave, no questions asked.

It's absolutely fine! Please don't beat yourself up.

I used to work in management and wouldn't be remotely bothered if someone rang in as a one off. It's patterns of sickness or people who ring in regularly that are the problem.

Mental health day. And your physical health will suffer if you don’t rest. Better to take a day now than more later.

It’s absolutely fine. You’re exhausted and burnt out which are totally legitimate reasons to call in sick.

If I were you I would actually (if you can) take a couple of days off, on the basis that actually taking some time to rest and get back on an even keel is or more long term benefit to you and your employer than taking one day and it not actually being enough to resolve anything.

Not that tidying up is resting but hopefully it will help you feel caught up and able to take a break when you can!

I presume your employers have a sickness policy so if you make a habit of it you'll need to have meetings etc so do be careful. Couldn't you have just taken it as a last minute annual leave day?

I don’t get annual leave unfortunately; just fixed holidays. And the next one is Christmas and that won’t be restful (I’m dreading it a bit to be honest.)

Your mental health is important. As long as it doesn't happen often it's fine. I would call in sick the rest if the week if I were you. You're burning out and you'll end up very sick if you don't listen to your body's warnings. I would spend today, Thursday and Friday relaxing and sorting out the house. Back to work fresh on Monday guilt free.

Better this than pushing yourself to burn out and ending up on long term sick with stress and exhaustion.

Insomnia = OK to take a day off if you really can't work

Cleaning & tidying = not sick

Are you on your own op, is there anyone to share the load with?

Was wondering this

Not sure I'd be able to function on 1h30 of sleep, if you aren't up to it you aren't up to it!

Why don't you get annual leave? Are you on a zero hours contract?

Of course you couldn't work on no sleep. As a younger woman I used to drag myself in when I really shouldn't have.

I tell my two now if you see unwell physically or mentally you cannot work.

I think insomnia and stress are a valid reason to take a day off, and using that day to get in control is fair enough. Sick days aren’t just about being laid up in bed.

Are you on your own or do you have a partner or family to support you?

I hate comments like this, I went on sick leave last year due to mental health and feeling overwhelmed but did obviously clean, tidy and take care of myself as much as I could during my time off.