Super Bowl LIX: Record-level absenteeism expected on Monday

Super Bowl absences to break previous records

According to UKG’s annual absenteeism survey, an estimated 22.6 million U.S. employees plan to miss work on Super Bowl Monday, surpassing the previous record of 18.8 million in 2023.

Another 12.9 million intend to arrive late to work, further affecting workforce availability, says UKG, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The report, based on a survey of 1,220 employed adults, shows employees are using various strategies to take the day off:

• 12.9 million have pre-approved leave.
• 4.8 million plan to swap shifts.
• 3.2 million will call in sick, despite not being unwell.
• 3.2 million will "ghost" their employer, skipping work without notice.

Despite the high absenteeism, UKG notes an increase in workplace transparency:

• More than two-thirds (68%) of employees now discuss time-off plans with managers before submitting requests, up from 62% in 2024.
• 58% of people managers who plan to watch the big game this year say they planned to ask their employees directly about their time-off plans for the Super Bowl (vs. 51% in 2024)
• 55% of U.S. employees say they feel comfortable asking their manager for time off the Monday after the Super Bowl (vs. 50% in 2023).

"Although a record number of employees plan to miss work on Monday, we continue to see forward progress with managers and employees having more open conversations about taking the day off, swapping shifts, or making arrangements to come in late so that the business is covered," said Julie Develin, senior partner of HCM advisory at UKG.

The survey also found that more than four in 10 (43%) working Americans believe Super Bowl Monday should be a national holiday, an increase from 37% in 2024.

Sharp increase in sick-day requests

HR software provider Paycom also anticipates a significant spike in sick-day requests on Super Bowl Monday. In 2024, sick-day requests on the Monday following the game were 63% higher than an average day.

And 91% of those requests approved, making it the second-highest approval rate of the year.

Businesses should anticipate a similar trend on February 10, 2025, as last year’s data showed:

• 51% more sick-day requests on Super Bowl Monday compared to an average February day.
• Super Bowl Monday ranked 12th among the “sickest” days of the year, with the top ten occurring in December and January.

Paycom emphasized the potential consequences of unexpected staffing shortages, including lost revenue, operational disruptions, and decreased productivity. The company recommends proactive scheduling and the use of HR technology to manage coverage.

"While employee sick days are unavoidable, good HR tech with time-off decisioning already built in ensures business continuity," said Jason Bodin, executive vice president of marketing and communications at Paycom.

Workplace productivity takes a hit with Super Bowl

Beyond outright absences, UKG found that 40% of employees who watch the Super Bowl expect to be distracted at work on Monday, a sharp increase from 28% last year. Among managers, this figure rises to 49%.

Additionally, 36% of employees say they will be less productive on the Monday after the Super Bowl, compared to 30% in 2024.

With absenteeism and reduced productivity on the rise, both reports suggest that organizations should prepare for staffing gaps and potential workflow disruptions in the days following major cultural events like the Super Bowl.