U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Office of Publications & Special Studies

Illness-related work absences during flu season

Table 1. Usual full-time workers who worked 1–34 hours by reason, monthly averages, 2005–10
(Numbers in thousands)
Reason for absence	April– November(1)	December– March (peak flu season)(1)	Percent change during flu season
Total noneconomic reasons
2005–06	8,595	8,270	-3.8
2006–07	9,017	8,605	-4.6
2007–08	8,095	7,796	-3.7
2008–09	8,383	7,210	-14.0
2009–10(2)	11,336	8,358	-26.3
Own illness, injury, or medical appointment
2005–06	1,823	2,536	39.1
2006–07	1,695	2,399	41.5
2007–08	1,747	2,653	51.9
2008–09	1,722	2,330	35.3
2009–10	1,591	2,087	31.2
Other family or personal obligations
2005–06	710	802	13.0
2006–07	713	843	18.2
2007–08	760	825	8.6
2008–09	699	729	4.3
2009–10	603	716	18.7
Other noneconomic reasons
2005–06	6,062	4,932	-18.6
2006–07	6,610	5,362	-18.9
2007–08	5,588	4,318	-22.7
2008–09	5,962	4,151	-30.4
2009–10(2)	9,142	5,554	-39.2
Footnotes: (1) Averages for each period are calculated by dividing the sum of absences reported by the number of months. For example, the average monthly absences in 2005–06 due to other family or personal obligations April–November was calculated by summing the levels of other family or personal obligations-related absences for April 2005 through November 2005, then dividing by eight. (2) There were two unusual events that affected the data during the 2009-2010 period. The first occurred in September 2009, when the Labor Day holiday fell within the reference week. Reflecting this rare occurence, those reporting an absence due to holiday (legal or religious) was 21.7 million, compared to an average level of 327,000 over the prior 4 years. Additionally, in February 2010 there were record breaking snowstorms along the eastern seaboard that greatly affected businesses. Although large numbers of weather-related absences are not uncommon in the month of February, this exceptionally severe weather caused an unusually large spike in absences.
NOTE: Data are not seasonally adjusted.

These data featured in the ILS article, Illness-related work absences during flu season.