First published on Monday, February 2, 2026
Last updated on Monday, February 2, 2026
The first Monday in February has long been designated National Sickie Day, when the most people are off sick. Here are the trends in names, ages, and even locations for sickness absences on Sickie Day 2025.
First, the figures
We collated absence data from 1.2 million BrightHR users from over 120,000 businesses. The so-called National Sickie Day (Monday 3rd February 2025) had the fourth-highest number of absences, behind the first Monday of January (when sickness spiked by a whopping 182%), and the first two Mondays in December. So, although we can officially call Sickie Day itself a myth, we can also say that winter Mondays are officially the worst.
Here are some of our other National Sickie Day findings:
Kiss me quick, regret it later
Sea air might not be a cure for all ills, as the biggest spike of Sickie Day absences in 2025 was in Blackpool. The seaside town was closely followed by Norwich, Cambridge, Aberdeen, and Leicester. All of these cities saw higher-than-usual sickness absences on 3rd February 2025.
If you spot patterns of sickness, make sure your managers are trained to spot the signs of burnout and other health issues, with e-learning courses on management skills.
All work and no play…
Work with a Jack? He’s more likely to be off sick today. There was a spike in sicknesses for people called Jack, Amy, Mike, Mark, and Christopher on 3rd February 2025.
And Gen Z is the most likely age group to be off sick: an average of 4 in 5 employees aged 18-28 were sick at some point in 2025. The least likely were Boomers (aged 61-79), with only half taking time off sick.
Of course, taking this data too seriously could lead to a discrimination case. The stats around names change every day. But, there are some things that never change…
We don’t like Mondays
Unsurprisingly, all of the top 10 days for sickness in 2025 were Mondays. Were they due to Sunday scaries, weekend hangovers, or something else?
If you find yourself short staffed on Mondays, keep an eye on patterns with absence management software and reporting. You can see who’s off with a team calendar view, fill open shifts with one click, and record and pull absence reports. And if you spot any patterns, find out if your employees are experiencing anxiety at the beginning of the working week.
Reasons for sickness
Mental ill health accounted for nearly 2% of all sickness absences on 3rd February: more than back pain. And with continuing stigma around talking about mental health, the real figure could be much higher. Make sure your employees have an outlet, like an Employee Assistance Programme. They’re a confidential ear for your employees to bend, 24/7.
Day one rights to sick pay = bigger costs for employers
The Employment Rights Act 2025 brings day one rights to SSP. BrightHR has calculated that the introduction of statutory sick pay in April will cost UK employers at least £5.13 million on the sickest day next year.
If you’re still unsure about your employer responsibilities under the Employment Rights Act 2025, you can seek advice from BrightHR or download our FREE guide here.
Key findings:
Sickness absences soared by 182% on the sickest day of the year, Monday 6 January
National Sickie Day (the first Monday in February) finished fourth highest for absences, the tenth year in a row where it has failed to top the absence table
Employees named Jack, Amy, Mike, Mark, and Christopher are most likely to call in sick on National Sickie Day
The cities with the highest spikes in absence on National Sickie Day compared to an average day are Blackpool (265%), Norwich (236%), Cambridge (223%), Aberdeen (216%), and Leicester (204%)
Gen Z is the most likely age group to be off sick: an average of 4 out of 5 employees were sick at some point in 2025
The top ten days for sickness absences in 2025 were all Mondays
The introduction of day one SSP under the Employment Rights Act 2025 will cost UK employers at least £5.13m on the sickest day next year
