26M people will take a Super Bowl sick day on Monday, UKG projects
Yahoo Finance·2026-02-05 15:30

Core Insights - Job attendance on Super Bowl Monday is projected to be significantly impacted, with an estimated 26.2 million workers expected to miss work [2] - Last year's Super Bowl Monday saw a 45% increase in sick-day requests compared to an average workday, indicating a trend of increased absenteeism following the event [3] - Unplanned absences due to the Super Bowl could cost businesses over $5 billion in lost productivity, highlighting the financial implications of this phenomenon [4] Attendance Trends - 13.1 million workers are expected to take a pre-approved day off, an increase from previous years [6] - 6.5 million workers will swap shifts with co-workers, also showing an upward trend [6] - 3.3 million workers plan to call out "sick," slightly increasing from prior data [6] - 1.6 million workers are expected to "ghost" their job, which is a significant decrease from previous years [6] Recommendations for HR - HR departments are advised to be proactive in managing attendance around the Super Bowl, as last-minute PTO requests and decision fatigue can lead to understaffing [3] - The shift towards more honest communication about post-Super Bowl needs among workers is seen as a positive development [4]