Millions expected to take time off work on Monday after Super Bowl

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Will you be at work Monday following Super Bowl Sunday?

More than four in 10 working Americans believe Super Bowl Monday should be a national holiday, but until then, many will be taking time off work on February 10.

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for a potential historic three-peat victory at Super Bowl LIX, American workplaces are bracing for another record: employee absences.
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Reports from HR technology firms UKG and Paycom highlight a significant uptick in planned and unplanned absences on the Monday following the game, a trend that continues to grow each year.

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.
So, what do members of Chiefs Kingdom plan to do?

We heard all sorts of answers that seemed to go along with the report’s findings during a Friday afternoon visit to Union Station.