Record number of employees plan to call out sick after the Super Bowl

Super Bowl Sunday typically means an evening of junk food, drinking and judgement over the yearly half time show. But for die-hard fans, whether they're depressed that their team lost, or went too hard celebrating, a record number of employees have already planned to call out sick from work on Monday morning. 

According to UKG's annual Super Bowl survey, 43% of Americans believe the Monday after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday, up from 37% in 2024. While it's currently not, most employees still plan to treat it like one: 22.6 million Americans plan to miss work on Monday, up from 16.1 million in 2024. An additional 12.9 million workers plan to show up late — hopefully with some leftover buffalo wings to share around the water cooler.

"We launched this research years ago to help organizations prepare for unplanned absences because of the Super Bowl and other pop-culture events that impact work," Julie Develin, senior partner of HCM advisory at UKG, said in a release. "Although a record number of employees plan to miss work on Monday, managers and employees are having more open conversations about taking the day off, swapping shifts, or making arrangements to come in late so that the business is covered."

Read more: Use it or lose it: How to maximize your PTO throughout the year 

While employees are entitled to their PTO, the majority of workers plan to ghost work entirely, or call out sick last minute. However, nearly 13 million have already requested the day off in advance, and 4.8 million have switched their shift with a coworker to keep work covered. 

While it's just one day, having a mass number of people off at the same time could be a logistical headache for managers, especially if they're unprepared. Acknowledging that the day after the Super Bowl might be a temptation to take off could help employees be honest about their intention to call out sick. 

UKG found that 58% of managers were going to ask employees directly about their post-game plans, and 68% of employees say they shared the reason for their PTO with their managers. Fifty-five percent of employees told UKG they felt comfortable asking their manager for time off to recover from the Super Bowl. 

"There's the expectation that employees have the right to use their PTO days however they see fit," says Annie Rosencrans, director of people and culture at HiBob. "The more notice you can give your manager, the better they can prepare." 

Read more: How to deal with mass PTO requests

Managers should try to be as flexible as possible, and in return, they'll find that employees feel more comfortable asking for time off in advance. Utilizing PTO is essential in combatting burnout and creating a culture of balance — even if managers may not agree with how an employee is spending that time. 

"It's essential for people to take time away to recharge and recover," says Rosencrans. "And it's up to managers to encourage and celebrate that time away."