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Feeling under the weather?
There’s nothing worse than hearing a cough echo through a quiet office, or worse, witnessing a colleague struggle with their health in a shared workspace. Despite the health risks, many workers still choose to show up at work for various reasons such as limited paid time off (PTO), heavy workloads, or simply the fear of falling behind.
This leads us to an interesting question: Are there particular states where employees are more likely to report sick? We analyzed Google search trends to find out.
Key Findings
- Workers in Oregon report sick the most, followed by Hawaii and Iowa.
- Generally, states on the West Coast and in the Southwest exhibit higher tendencies for reporting sick leave compared to other regions.
- States such as North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska, Maine, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Vermont show the lowest search traffic related to calling in sick.
- This may indicate that these states have healthier populations—or that employees are less concerned about sharing illnesses with their coworkers.
Top States Reporting Sick Leave
How We Determined This
This analysis was straightforward. We examined Google searches for the phrase “call in sick,” a common query for those looking to assess their options before notifying their employer.
While we can’t confirm that all individuals who searched this phrase actually call in sick, it certainly reflects a strong intention to do so. We collected search volume data over the past year, allowing for various circumstances that might lead to needing a day off, whether due to illness or simply needing a break. The higher the search volume, the greater the likelihood that workers in that state are reporting sick leave.
Please, Don’t Work While Sick
While it’s tempting to power through a fever, remember that it’s best for both your health and your colleagues’ well-being to stay home when you’re unwell.
Which states call in sick the most?
| Rank | State |
|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon |
| 2 | Hawaii |
| 3 | Iowa |
| 4 | Kansas |
| 4 | Minnesota |
| 6 | Arkansas |
| 7 | New Mexico |
| 7 | Wisconsin |
| 9 | Nevada |
| 10 | Colorado |
| 11 | Washington |
| 12 | Idaho |
| 13 | California |
| 14 | Indiana |
| 15 | Nebraska |
| 16 | Michigan |
| 17 | Illinois |
| 18 | Utah |
| 18 | Kentucky |
| 20 | Missouri |
| 21 | New Hampshire |
| 21 | Louisiana |
| 23 | Oklahoma |
| 24 | Tennessee |
| 25 | Arizona |
| 25 | Texas |
| 27 | Alabama |
| 28 | Maryland |
| 28 | Connecticut |
| 30 | Mississippi |
| 31 | Massachusetts |
| 32 | North Carolina |
| 33 | New York |
| 34 | South Carolina |
| 34 | Montana |
| 36 | Ohio |
| 36 | Florida |
| 38 | Georgia |
| 39 | Pennsylvania |
| 39 | Virginia |
| 41 | New Jersey |
| 42 | North Dakota |
| 42 | South Dakota |
| 42 | West Virginia |
| 42 | Wyoming |
| 42 | Alaska |
| 42 | Maine |
| 42 | Delaware |
| 42 | Rhode Island |
| 42 | Vermont |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
