26% of Americans between ages 18 and 65 did not take a single sick day in 2022

Stomach bugs are the most common reason for absentees among workers

Americans are bracing for the 'sickest day of the year' - as more call off work ill on August 24 more than at any other time of year, including the day after Super Bowl Sunday.

While the winter months are typically rife with illness, data from leave management platform Flamingo Leave Tracker has confirmed that sickness can strike in every season.

Stomach bugs were deemed the most common reason for sick leave among U.S. workers and accounted for 54 percent of sick leave.

This was closely followed by COVID-19 at 25 percent, anxiety or stress at 9 percent, and musculoskeletal injuries/broken bones at 6 percent.

Americans are leaving employers in the lurch on August 24 by calling in sick more than any other time of year, including the day after Super Bowl Sunday

'When we found that the sickest day of the year is in fact in August, it was quite a surprising result,' David Hehenberger, founder of Flamingo Leave Tracker, told shrm.

It remains unclear why Americans have dubbed August 24 their favorite day to call in sick - no major holidays are marked on the calendar for that week.

Hehenberger suggested that, while pandemic-era mandates are a thing of the past, the impact of the disease is still being felt in workplaces.

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'It's clear that despite the height of the pandemic a couple of years ago, COVID-19 is still having a large impact on our workforce, with a quarter of sick days taken over the last five years due to employees being affected by coronavirus,' Hehenberger said.

'As the news has recently reported, cases in the U.S. have risen. Businesses still should expect to see absences in the workplace due to COVID-19 over the coming months.'

But its not just people catching COVID-19 which has led to the phenomenon.

There has been a rise in workers emboldened to take mental health days following the global phenomenon that saw millions isolated for months.

Paaras Parker, chief human resources officer at payroll software company Paycor, told Bloomberg that her organization has observed a notable uptick in workers staying home with anxiety or stress-related conditions.

Hehenberger explained that while pandemic-era mandates are a thing of the past, the impact of the disease is still being felt in workplaces

This accounted for almost 9 percent of sick leave according to the Flamingo survey.

'It's not necessarily that they have strep or a fever, but that they need a day for themselves,' she said.

The introduction of remote work is also changing the culture around sick leave.

Top 10 'Sickest Days of the Year' 24th August 13th February 25th October 15th December 18th April 2nd February 24th January 26th June 12th December 5th September Advertisement

A new survey by WFH Research found that workers feeling ill but without an option to work remotely are nearly twice as likely to come to the office with symptoms as their hybrid counterparts.

'People clearly feel more comfortable working from home when they're coughing or when their nose is very stuffy,' Jeff Levin-Scherz, population health leader at insurance company WTW, formerly Willis Towers Watson told Bloomberg.

'If they feel well enough to work, they can feel more comfortable knowing they're not going to pass anything to anybody else.'

He added that perks like access to healthy food and exercise facilities could serve as a way to boost morale and employee health and attendance.

'These days, where many knowledge workers just don't come to the office, some of these efforts to make healthier workplaces might actually be amenities that help encourage people to show up,' Levin-Scherz said.

Hehenberger said the information could be helpful to employer's as they plan out strategies for sick leave.

Business data firm Statista said that 26 percent of Americans between the ages 18 and 65 didn't take a single day of sick leave in 2022 - which on the surface seems like a sign of high productivity and dedication.

But Hehenberger explained that the reason behind it could be far more complex.

'If it's because of genuine good health and wellness, that's of course a good thing,' he explained.

'However, if workers are not taking sick leave due to fear, pressure or lack of adequate policies in the workplace, it can be problematic in the long run for both the employees and the organization.'

The introduction of remote work is also changing the culture around sick leave

He said mental health days which are becoming more popular within industries should be seen as a positive trend and one that could possibly lead to a cut down of traditional sick leave.

'[They can reassure workers that as a business you care about their overall well-being,' he said.

'Businesses will always struggle to precisely plan for illness-related absences because illnesses are unpredictable by nature, however, by sharing sick-leave patterns, we can offer businesses insights into workplace health, morale and potential burnout.

'By being aware of peak times for illnesses and sick leave, employers and HR leaders can make sure they have proactive management strategies in place to ensure operational continuity.'