[bdamm]

What is the consequence of the OP not showing up at work? Does he lose paid days? Does he get fired? How does his company track sick days? At every company I've worked for there's usually a formal sick day arrangement, but often sick days are less formal; you email or call your boss and tell them you're sick and they tell you to stay home. Rarely does the boss actually record that event. This is different company to company but I'm betting a lot of people put more on themselves about staying home than they should.

[wlesieutre]

It's fairly formalized here. I work at an architectural lighting manufacturer, and the construction industry is very phone-based. I'm sure most electrical contractors have smartphones by now, but most of the questions from the field still come in as phone calls. So we're expected to keep good coverage of the phones, and if I'm not around then everyone needs to know to direct technical calls to someone else's desk.

Sick days do get logged, and if I really need more time off I can start burning vacation days. Given the choice, I'd rather spend a shitty sleep deprived unproductive day at work.

Eventually goes up to 10 sick days, but I don't remember when the threshold is. Frankly it's a strange thing to base on seniority, as if newer employees somehow get sick less?

[Nadya]

Where I work, days off are logged but only to make sure you aren't "abusing" the informal policy. Abuse means you get treated more formally and may be told "No, you need to come in today."

Email/call in sick, stay at home. There is an implicit "stay a little later when you're feeling better and/or make up lost time on the weekend". As long as nothing falls behind it isn't an issue. That's the informal policy. If you were ahead or don't fall behind - the extra hours don't need to be picked up. The only important thing is that things remain on schedule.

Hungover, sick, just don't feel like coming in that day, doesn't really matter.