As Labor Day weekend approaches, A new study from Retrospec surveyed 1,000 U.S. workers and found that Americans are embracing creative strategies to stretch the holiday weekend as long as possible. Among these, one statistic stands out: 14% of respondents say they plan to call out sick to snag an extra day off, making it the most mischievous—and telling—tactic in this year’s Labor Day playbook.
This particular maneuver reflects a deeper yearning for flexibility and rest in the face of increasing demands. It sits alongside other savvy, less drastic strategies: 37% are taking paid time off before or after the holiday, while 13% are taking unpaid leave to maximize their time away. For those able to shift schedules, 19% will work from home, and 18% have taken to swapping shifts with colleagues to engineer a longer break. Not everyone wants, or can take, days off: 17% of workers say they plan to work on Labor Day to earn some extra cash, and 15% intend to end their travels on Monday evening to avoid having to take a day off.
The decision to call out “sick” underscores how even a single additional day, even if it’s taken in a bit of a dishonest way, can dramatically shape the experience of this long weekend. It also speaks to the broader balancing act many are performing between workplace expectations and personal recharge.
Collectively, these Labor Day “hacks” not only illuminate how Americans are coping with economic pressures and rigid schedules but also highlight the lengths to which people will go to reclaim a moment of leisure.
You can find the full study here: https://retrospec.com/blogs/news/the-labor-day-report
