“Super-Sick Monday:” One in Five U.S. Workers Admit to Calling in Sick After Super Bowl Sunday, New Data Finds

Super Bowl Sunday may be America’s unofficial holiday, but new data shows it comes with a major workplace cost the next day.

New research from career expert TopResume finds that “Super-Sick Monday” is quickly becoming an annual trend, with millions of employees skipping work after the big game.

Key statistics:

• Nearly one in five U.S. workers (18.45%) admit they’ve called in sick the day after Super Bowl Sunday

• 7.56% say they’ve done it more than once, pointing to repeat “post-game” absenteeism

• Among those who’ve taken a Super Bowl sick day before, nearly a third (28.92%) plan to do it again this year.

As Super Bowl Sunday has become America’s unofficial national holiday, new data from career expert TopResume reveals that nearly one in five U.S. workers (18.45%) have called in sick following Super Bowl celebrations. Alarmingly, of these workers, 7.56% admit that they’ve done so more than once, highlighting a post-game productivity slump across the workforce.

Among workers who’ve previously called in sick after Super Bowl celebrations, the trend shows no sign of slowing. Nearly a third (28.92%) admit that they plan to call in sick again after this year’s game, while another 32.53% say that their decision will depend on how late the night goes. Only one-quarter (25.30%) of those who’ve previously called in sick plan to return to work as normal the following day this year.

Gen Z leads the “Super-Sick Monday” trend

The research revealed that younger Americans are driving much of the post-Super Bowl absenteeism, with Gen Z emerging as the most likely generation to call in sick:

• More than one in four Gen Z workers (27.45%) have previously called in sick after Super Bowl Sunday

• 12.42% admit that they’ve done so more than once 

• 6.54% already plan to call in sick after this year’s Super Bowl, and a further 18.30% admitted that they’ll decide based on how late the night goes.

Millennial workers follow closely behind

The research revealed that Millennials also show high levels of post-Super Bowl “sickness:”

• More than one-fifth (21.17%) have called in sick after Super Bowl celebrations 

• Nearly one in 10 (8.64%) have done so more than once 

• 8.64% plan to call in sick this year

• 8.36% will decide depending on the night

Gen X and Boomers less likely to skip work

The research revealed that older generations are far less likely to take a Super Bowl sick day:

• Only 13.08% of Gen X and 6.82% of Boomer workers have called in sick after Super Bowl celebrations 

• While 3.49% of Gen X plan to do so this year, only 1% of Boomer professionals feel the same 

• 2.62% of Gen X workers will decide depending on how late the night goes in comparison to 4.55% of Boomers

Men are more than twice as likely as women to call in sick

The new research also revealed a clear gender divide in post-Super Bowl absence. Nearly a quarter of male professionals (24.31%) admitted to having called in sick after the game, compared to only 13.86% of women.

This pattern continues amongst repeat offenders: 10.89% of men admitted to doing so more than once, more than double the 4.95% of women who said the same. 

A staggering 9.11% of men plan to call in sick after this year’s Super Bowl — nearly three times the share of women who said the same (3.37%). A further 11.14% of men say that they’ll decide depending on how late the night goes, more than double the rate of women (4.95%). 

According to Amanda Augustine, resident career expert for TopResume and a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC):

“For many Americans, the Monday after the Super Bowl comes with a real post-game hangover, and I don’t just mean from the snacks and cocktails. It’s a mix of late nights, disrupted routines, and for some, a case of the post-game blues. Instead of forcing employees to power through, employers can get ahead of it by offering simple, creative support, like reminding staff about floating holidays, encouraging half-days for die-hard fans, or even providing small perks like breakfast or coffee to help people ease back into the work week.

On the employee side, honesty and planning go a long way. If you know Sunday night will be a late one, consider using PTO — even for a half day — or shift meetings and deadlines ahead of time. Save lower-lift administrative tasks for Monday and tackle your more focused work later in the week. A little foresight can help you enjoy the game without starting your work week in recovery mode.”

---

Methodology: This survey was conducted by TopResume in January 2026, gathering insights from 900 full-time U.S. workers. Data recorded: January 2026

TopResume is a career.io brand. It’s the world’s premier resume-writing service and improves millions of resumes and LinkedIn profiles every year. It enhances job seekers’ chances of interviews and promotion by leveraging the expertise of professional writers with specific expertise. It offers tailored resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn makeovers that showcase each individual’s unique skills and experience. When customers use one of TopResume’s services, they now unlock 18 powerful tools to help them get hired and promoted faster. Follow TopResume on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

Amanda Augustine is the resident career expert for career.io’s suite of brands: TopResume, resume.io, Resume.ai, TopCV, 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.