Americans Are Mostly Useless on Super Game Monday and Our IT Departments Hate Us for It

You've probably heard of the phenomenon where employees call in sick or decide to work remotely the day after the Super Bowl, unofficially known as Super Bowl Monday. However, what might surprise you is that for a specific group of workers, IT managers, Super Bowl Monday is not a day of relaxation but the busiest day of the year.

As the 58th championship football game approaches, American workers are gearing up for a day that combines post-game exhaustion with the challenges of the workweek.

How we "work" on Super Bowl Monday

A recent study by the AI-powered IT management platform Atera sheds light on the unique work dynamics expected on Super Bowl Monday. 

Shockingly, 41% of hybrid workers are planning to stay at home and work remotely on the day after the Big Game. Among those opting for remote work, 27% plan to cite illness as the reason and 25% intend to use the excuse of having an "appointment."

For those who decide to show up at the workplace, the survey reveals a considerable decline in productivity:

• 33% expect to accomplish less work
• 24% anticipate being less responsive 
• 26% admit they are likely to be unproductive

Furthermore, 31% are bracing for grogginess, 28% for a hangover, and 25% for a generally cranky disposition. Surprisingly, 18% are already strategically withholding completed work to be shared at a later time.

The cost to businesses

While Super Bowl Monday might seem like a lighthearted extension of the weekend, the collective impact on businesses is substantial. The study indicates this lax approach on the part of general workers comes at a cost for IT professionals. Thirty-one percent of remote or hybrid employees acknowledge an increased likelihood of encountering IT issues while working remotely.

With half of them admitting to using personal devices instead of work-issued hardware during remote work, the risk of falling victim to phishing and cyber threats escalates. This puts immense pressure on IT professionals, with 77% anticipating a "tsunami" of IT problems on Big Game Monday. An expected 26% average increase in IT tickets further compounds the challenges, and 75% of IT professionals expect it will be the busiest day of 2024.

IT managers are the exception

Interestingly, IT managers stand out as exceptions on Super Bowl Monday. While their colleagues are planning to either work remotely or take the day off, IT managers anticipate a barrage of challenges. 

The top issues they predict include software downtime (50%), falling for phishing links (42%), forgotten passwords (37%), the dreaded blue screen of death (37%), non-compliant shadow IT (33%), and even the accidental spillage of drinks on laptops (30%).

Despite the overwhelming challenges, 64% of general workers consider it unacceptable for IT professionals to be slow to respond on Big Game Monday. This stark contrast in expectations places immense pressure on IT teams to deliver prompt solutions and maintain business continuity.

Bottom line

As Super Bowl Monday approaches, a unique juxtaposition unfolds in workplaces across the country. While many anticipate a day of leisure, IT professionals gear up for a high-stakes game of their own, navigating a surge in IT challenges and user demands.

The call for recognizing Big Game Monday as a national holiday is gaining traction, with Atera launching a petition for the idea that is supported by 41% of general workers. In the end, the day after the Super Bowl serves as a reminder that even in the world of remote work, unexpected challenges can emerge when least expected.