Most Common Days People Call In Sick
This morning on the show, John Patrick and Mary Liz talk about recent research that looks at the most common days people call in sick. For more from Augusta’s Morning News, click here.
Transcript:
John Patrick: Okay. So apparently this company, it’s a leave management company, Flamingo Leave Tracker decided to analyze five years worth of data looking for the most common dates that people call in sick. Now, before I go down this path, before I go down this path.
Mary Liz: I know one of them.
John Patrick: Let’s not talk about the fact that we are rarely calling in sick because we can’t. Just the jinx. Well, well, okay. Yeah. Okay.
Mary Liz: Plain and simple.
John Patrick: Yeah, we can’t.
Mary Liz: No.
John Patrick: Because we’re not going to jinx it. All right, Now I.
Mary Liz: Want to play. I want to play.
John Patrick: Okay, But you’re going to be wrong. But that’s okay. You’re going to be close to being right. Go ahead.
Mary Liz: The first one. Excuse me. I need to call in sick. The first one on the list will be the day after the Super Bowl.
John Patrick: That’s close. It’s the second sickest day of the year. That’s February 13th, which they say many times aligns with the Super Bowl. February 13th aligns with Valentine’s Day. The third sickest day of the year is October 25th.
Mary Liz: What’s before that?
John Patrick: Well, it’s just how the numbers…
Mary Liz: I thought it was like people calling in sick on purpose because they’ve got other stuff.
John Patrick: Yeah, because they’re sick.
Mary Liz: Oh, it’s legit. Okay.
John Patrick: What, is that a foreign concept to you?
Mary Liz: Yes, because in my mind, I’m. I’m interpreting it. The day people choose to.
John Patrick: No, they’re…
Mary Liz: Air quotes call in sick.
John Patrick: Oh, God, no. They’re really sick. There are people out there.
Mary Liz: Really? People get sick?
John Patrick: And then call in for a sick day.
Mary Liz: I didn’t know that.
John Patrick: October 25th is third. Dec ember 13th is fourth. April 18th is fifth. But the number one day that people call in sick and it’s coming up, August 24th, Sickest day of the year.
Mary Liz: Okay. Well, I need to just go ahead and plan to stay home because I don’t want to be around these people that are sick.
John Patrick: Yeah. You know why I’m calling in sick? Because the other people in the building are sick.
Mary Liz:Yeah. I don’t want it. Whatever you got, I don’t want it.
John Patrick:All right, here’s some more things they unearthed in doing this research. 26% of us did not. Did not take a sick day last year.
Mary Liz: Yeah, I think I did.
John Patrick: I did not.
Mary Liz: Did you not?
John Patrick: No, I’ve taken… Oh, here we go. You going to make me go down this path I’ve taken? I believe. I believe as far as an honest to goodness. One of the days for the for the medical procedure, which I’ll do again next month. But that’s, that’s it.
Mary Liz: We really don’t want you here for that.
John Patrick: Well, no, I’m not, I’m not Katie Couric.
Mary Liz: Thank goodness no one’s ever asked us to do that. We’ve both been asked to do a lot of things over the years, but not that.
John Patrick: 5% of employees took more than 20 sick days last year.
Mary Liz: Okay. Well, we can’t, I come back to that.
John Patrick: Most common reason for calling in sick? 54%…
Mary Liz: Headache.
John Patrick: You know, a little. Got a little stomach bug. Okay. 9% anxiety. I’m calling in sick because I’m anxious.
Mary Liz: We’d be calling in every day.
John Patrick:The majority of those who call in sick, 54% will text it. 33%. Cowards. 33% will make a call.
Mary Liz: I’m with them. I like that.
John Patrick: 12%. Bigger cowards will e-mail.
Mary Liz: Okay. I like that, too.
John Patrick: And 2% don’t tell the boss at all.
Mary Liz: I have my husband do it.
John Patrick: Yeah. I don’t think that’s on the list…
