40% of Americans Are Calling in Sick for Burnout, Not the Flu
- Amanda Augustine
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Resume.io’s survey shows that workers are increasingly using sick leave for reasons their employers never intended:
40.1% called in sick due to burnout, stress, or mental exhaustion
35.6% called in sick because they were exhausted and needed sleep or rest
29% took time off to deal with family situations or emergencies
24% took sick days because of anxiety or depression
21.5% used sick time to attend personal appointments they couldn't schedule outside work hours
20.1% took time off due to family conflict or personal emotional distress
13.3% stayed home because they just couldn't face work that day
9.7% faked illness to attend job interviews
7.8% called in sick for plans they didn't want to cancel (social events, trips, etc.)
7.2% took time off following romantic breakups or relationship issues
6.7% used the time to search for jobs or work on applications and resumes
4.3% took sick days to avoid a difficult meeting, task, or person at work
Only about one in six workers (16.7%) say they’ve never taken a sick day for non-illness reasons, implying that 83.3% admit they’ve lied or concealed the truth about why they were absent.
The data reveals a workplace culture crisis: mental health and real-life demands are driving more absences than physical illness, yet workers feel forced to hide it.
Amanda Augustine, Certified Professional Career Coach and resident career expert at resume.io explains:
“When more than 80% of workers feel compelled to lie about taking a sick day, that points to a much deeper workplace issue than simply employee dishonesty. Burnout is now the leading cause of absenteeism, yet many employees still feel the need to disguise mental exhaustion as a stomach bug. That puts workers in an impossible position, forcing them to choose between their health and their paycheck. Until companies recognize that burnout is just as real as physical illness, this cycle of secrecy and working while sick will continue to hurt both employee well-being and business performance.”
Conflict with coworkers is the No. 1 trigger for mental health sick leave
When asked what led to their most recent mental health sick day, workers pointed to systemic workplace problems and emotional exhaustion at every level.
Nearly one-third (32.6%) cited conflict with colleagues as the breaking point, making interpersonal tension the leading driver of mental health absences. Heavy workload followed at 26.1%, with toxic managers and feeling undervalued close behind at 21.7%.
Notably, about one in five respondents (19.6%) reported experiencing cumulative stress without a single triggering incident; they simply hit a wall. Another 19.6% point to stress in their personal lives, underscoring how pressures at work and at home compound each other.
Perhaps most concerning, more than one in 10 workers (10.9%) reported waking up without a specific trigger and being unable to face their jobs — a sign of deeper burnout surfacing as an unexpected collapse.
One in three Americans work while sick because they can't afford to lose pay
Despite the rise in strategic sick days, many workers still can't afford to take time off when genuinely ill. More than one in three Americans (36.5%) say they’ve dragged themselves to work while sick because they couldn't afford to lose pay.
Other reasons workers showed up sick include fear of falling behind (23.9%), not wanting to burden their team (20.3%), direct pressure from managers (16.6%), and unmissable deadlines (12.3%). Nearly one in five workers (19%) also cited job insecurity, worrying they’d be seen as unreliable.
Methodology: Resume.io surveyed 1,000 employed Americans aged 18+ across all 50 states and work settings (remote, hybrid, on-site) in January 2026, examining sick day usage over the past six months, reasons for absences, dishonesty patterns, and workplace culture pressures.
Resume.io, a career.io brand, is an AI-powered resume builder designed to help job seekers create professional resumes and cover letters with ease. With over 30 recruiter-approved templates, AI-driven writing suggestions, and hundreds of job-specific examples, it simplifies the job search process. Users can generate cover letters, tailor resumes to match job descriptions and download their documents in multiple formats, including PDF, Word, and Google Docs. Built for speed and efficiency, resume.io ensures resumes are ATS-friendly and optimized for success. Trusted by millions across 100+ countries, it offers more than just a resume builder–unlocking 18 powerful career tools to help professionals land their next opportunity faster. For more information, visit resume.io or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Amanda Augustine is the resident career expert for career.io’s suite of brands: TopResume, TopCV, resume.io, Resume.ai, and TopInterview. As a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), she has spent more than 20 years helping professionals improve their careers and land the right job sooner. Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
