Super Bowl Monday Absenteeism To Hit Record High

The "Super Bowl Flu" is hitting harder than ever in 2025, with a staggering 22.6 million U.S. employees planning to skip work on Monday after the big game. This number shatters last year’s record of 16.1 million absences, highlighting a growing workplace trend that employers can no longer ignore. Even more shocking, 3.2 million workers admit they’ll call in sick without actually being sick, while another 3.2 million plan to "ghost" their jobs entirely, skipping work without notifying their employer.

But even those who show up may not be fully engaged. 40% of employees (and nearly half of all managers!) admit they’ll be distracted by Super Bowl media coverage at work, a massive jump from just 28% last year. Additionally, over one-third (36%) of employees expect to be less productive, with 44% of managers acknowledging they’ll be in the same boat.

The debate over making Super Bowl Monday a national holiday is heating up, too. 43% of employees support the idea, up from 37% last year, and an even bigger percentage (56%) say they wish their company would just give them the day off. The cultural impact of the game is undeniable, with 16.1 million ‘Swifties’ tuning in just to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift cheering for Travis Kelce and 12% of viewers hoping to see Kendrick Lamar and Drake settle their ongoing feud during the halftime show.

Rather than fighting the inevitable, companies should get ahead of the trend by planning for absenteeism, offering flexible scheduling, and engaging employees with pre-game activities. Organizations that embrace cultural moments like the Super Bowl can boost morale, reduce unplanned absences, and create a more engaged workforce.