Is no sleep a reasonable excuse for calling in sick to work?

[Catermellor]

Is ‘I haven’t slept at all’ a reasonable excuse for not going to work?

I really haven’t. I might have had two hours maybe 9-11 and then maybe dozed for half an hour between 4 and 430’but that’s it and that’s a generous guess. I feel all shaky and horrible and I just want to catch up on some sleep.

Is your child going to nursery if they were up all night and unwell, if not then you'd be better calling in sick as your child is ill. Don't mention not coming in because you didn't sleep.

Your workplace sounds awful, built on a culture of distrust. I bet staff turnover was high.

You only work 2 days a week, and want to not go in for one of them because you didn't get much sleep?

Go in, you won't feel as bad as you imagine.

If someone was saying to me they were not in a fit state to work because of lack of sleep I’d accept that like anything else. If it was a recurring issue we’d go through the normal process like anything else.

I do think you can get used to lack of sleep to an extent, so 4 hours sleep for one person may be manageable but completely floor someone else.

This. A lot of posters keep trotting out the "unless you're a brain surgeon or an HGV driver..." but there are plenty of other types of job where a mistake induced by lack of sleep can have serious consequences. No-one will die if someone makes a mistake in my profession, but I have still seen people sent home after a bad night's sleep as our insurer is not going to look too kindly on someone messing up in those circumstances!

Similarly, people saying they would never be in as they suffer from insomnia and other chronic sleep disturbances - OP is talking about taking one day. If it starts to happen all the time I'm sure her employer's absence policies will kick in and it will be a different story.

Was there another parent at home over night?

I work 13 hour shifts as a Nurse and have nights where I barely sleep. As much as I feel like shit once I get going I usually override the tiredness and just catch up the next night. Yabu to call in especially as you only work 2 days a week, I am sure you manage one day.

I think you are being a bit of a wet blanket. Get some coffee and go in. Save your sick days and goodwill from your boss for days when you actually need them. I have 2 young kids and regularly have nights like this. It’s shit but you cannot call in sick because it will happen all the time (especially if you have another child). It’s only one day and you’ll have to go to bed at the same time as your kid when you get home to catch up. Loads of us have been there.

Can you offer to do another day instead of today?

Does where I worked Fridays and Mondays score higher on the Bradford Factor same as days before or after a bank holiday and before or after annual leave

You have my sympathies op, one of ours was a poor sleeper. Not just when ill but constantly. I used to go in to work feeling drained and crap but ut really is surprising how well we can function workwise when sleep deprived. It catches up in other areas of course but work was ok.

If you have to take the day off iin these circumstances always use a plausible reason, no sleep isn't one unfortunately.

Isn’t this what those parental (unpaid) days are for?

'It’s only one day and you’ll have to go to bed at the same time as your kid when you get home to catch up. Loads of us have been there'

This is very true, I remember the awful days of going to bed at 8pm as I knew I'd at least get a good 4hrs until midnight when the chaos usually began .

I'm a chronic insomniac so I always work on no sleep or I'd never be at work. I got about 3 hours last night, for example, so I'm logging in right now. If the lack of sleep is going to cause serious problems for you or your work then call in sick.

Otherwise, personally I'd work through it, but in your case maybe tell people you aren't feeling 100% . The alternative is calling in sick and catching up with sleep during the day which can throw your whole sleep-cycle off.

I've suffered from insomnia my whole life. A lot brought on by the stress of being a teacher, but still...

Never had a day off work because of it. You just have to crack on and get on with it.

I think it largely depends on what job you have. If you’re a surgeon or a driver then probably dangerous but if you work in an office or a shop or whatever then I think you should probably go in.
Is your child well enough for nursery or whatever today?
Do you not have a partner at home at night who can do their fair share?

I'm a chronic insomniac and often have only a few hours sleep - and feel terrible after particularly bad nights. I make sure I have a sleep at lunchtime - I have a nap in the car if I'm in the office. That's enough to see me through the day.

I take the day off when I haven't slept well. Not as sick I just say I didn't sleep and will be useless so I'm taking the day

I have gone in to work plenty of times after a very bad night sleep. You are better off getting up forgetting about the poor night sleep and getting on with your day, you will get through it. Wallowing in it and staying home may contribute to another bad night sleep tonight

Most jobs might tolerate that once. At a push, twice. After that, you'd be on a disciplinary.

I have gone in for a 12 hour shift with half of what you got, 1 hour, but i also would have had no problem calling in sick if I had felt rough with it

Eh?! What?!

Will you get paid if you don't go in? I wouldn't want to pay someone to have a duvet day, specially on a Friday when the weekend is just round the corner. I would also not want to pass your work to a colleague so that you can have a lie in.

How are you going to catch up on sleep when you have a poorly 2 year old at home @Catermellor?

Or are you saying the child who has kept you up all night (so presumably also has had little quality sleep) is well enough to go to a childcare provision? But you're not ok to work?