Companies all throughout the country are preparing for a “Super flu” outbreak on Monday, when more than 16 million people are predicted to call in sick after watching the Lombardi Trophy game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to a UKG poll, which offers workforce management, payroll, and human resources solutions, 16.1 million American workers want to take the day off from work on February 11, the day of the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
Additionally, according to the study, 45 million American workers believe they will be less productive than normal on Monday, while 22.5 million workers, or 14% of the workforce, anticipate missing at least some work.
“The Monday after Super Bowl has become the number one day in absenteeism or people taking a vacation day,” Derek Stevens, owner and CEO of several Las Vegas casinos including Circa, told Reuters. “It has become so significant.
“From a Vegas gaming perspective Super Bowl Monday after has now become a top 10 day out of 365 days a year for gambling.”
According to the American Gaming Association, a record 67.8 million adult Americans are anticipated to wager $23.1 billion on the Super Bowl.
“A lot has to do with the Super Bowl in Vegas being sold out every year,” said Stevens. “Not everyone can fit onto an airplane on Monday so as opposed to trying to fight traffic and try to get a very expensive flight out of town on Monday they leave on Tuesday.
“What it’s done is it has created this event like the Sunday night after the game is over. It’s crazy.
“People are betting like crazy, because either you won a lot of money so you want to bet more or lost a lot of money and trying to get it back.
“Monday people are hanging around all day then they hit the bricks on Tuesday.”