How common are summer allergies and how do they affect work?

More than 1 in 4 U.S. adults — approximately 25.7% — have seasonal allergies (CDC/NHIS). Grass pollen, the primary summer trigger, peaks from late May through July. Research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that allergic rhinitis costs employers an average of $593 per employee per year in lost productivity — more than stress, migraine, depression, or anxiety — primarily through presenteeism: people working while symptomatic but functioning at reduced capacity (Lamb et al., JOEM).

Summer Allergies at Work: Why Grass Pollen Hits in June — and How to Get Relief

If your nose has been running since late May and you’re going through a box of tissues a week at your desk, you’re not alone — and it’s not “just sneezing.”

More than one in four U.S. adults have seasonal allergies (CDC/NHIS, 2021). Grass pollen — the dominant trigger from late spring through midsummer — is peaking right now. And the impact goes well beyond a stuffy nose. Research shows that employees with allergic rhinitis experience symptoms an average of 52.5 days per year and lose approximately 2.3 hours of productivity per symptomatic workday — but take only about 3.6 sick days (Lamb et al., JOEM). The rest of the time, they’re at their desks, functioning at reduced capacity, wondering why they can’t concentrate.

That gap between symptomatic days and sick days is where the real cost lives — for the employee and for the employer.

Who It Affects — and Why It’s Peaking Right Now

• 25.7% of U.S. adults have diagnosed seasonal allergies — roughly 67 million people (CDC/NHIS, 2021).
• Prevalence is slightly higher in women, in non-Hispanic White adults, and in nonmetropolitan areas (CDC, 2024).
• Grass pollen is the primary trigger from late May through July. Tree pollen dominates earlier spring; weed pollen (especially ragweed) takes over in late summer and fall.
• Allergy seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer. Warmer temperatures extend pollen production periods, and rising CO₂ levels increase pollen output per plant (Lancet Countdown).
• This is not a childhood condition people outgrow. Many adults develop seasonal allergies for the first time in their 20s, 30s, or later — sometimes after moving to a new region with different pollen exposures.

The Hidden Work Cost — It’s Not “Just Allergies”

Seasonal allergies are widely dismissed as minor. The productivity data tells a different story.

A workplace productivity study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine surveyed more than 8,000 employees across 47 U.S. employer sites. The findings (Lamb et al., JOEM):

• $593 per employee per year in total productivity losses from allergic rhinitis — the highest of any condition studied. For comparison: high stress cost $518, migraine $277, depression $273, and anxiety $250.
• 52.5 symptomatic days per year on average, but only 3.6 sick days taken. That means 93% of symptomatic days were spent at work, functioning below capacity.
• 2.3 hours of productivity lost per symptomatic workday — through difficulty concentrating, fatigue from disrupted sleep, and the cognitive fog that allergy sufferers describe.
• Presenteeism, not absenteeism, accounted for the vast majority of productivity loss. Employees don’t stay home for allergies. They show up, struggle through, and produce less.

Nationwide, allergic rhinitis accounts for an estimated 3.8 million lost work and school days and approximately $4.5 billion in direct medical costs annually (CDC). But the larger economic burden — the productivity impact — is estimated at $5.2 billion per year, with a significant portion attributable to the drowsiness caused by older, sedating antihistamines (published research estimates).

The insight for employers: allergies rarely appear in sick-day data. They appear in the quality of work produced during the weeks that affected employees are at their desks but not at their capacity. (For more on how presenteeism affects workforce productivity across health conditions, see our analysis of sleep health and employee productivity.)

Allergies vs. a Summer Cold — How to Tell the Difference

The confusion is common and understandable. Both cause sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. But the patterns are different — and recognizing the difference helps determine the right response.

The practical test: if your symptoms come and go with outdoor exposure, track daily pollen counts, include itchy eyes, and persist well beyond 10 days — it’s more likely allergies than a cold. A clinician can confirm with a brief evaluation, and an allergist can identify specific triggers through testing if needed.

Reducing Exposure: Simple Habits That Lower Pollen Contact

You cannot eliminate pollen from the outdoor environment. But you can meaningfully reduce how much of it reaches your nose, eyes, and lungs on any given day.

• Check local pollen counts daily. Weather apps, pollen.com, and local forecasts report pollen levels. On high-count days, limit time outdoors during peak pollen hours — typically early morning through midday when counts are highest.
• Keep windows closed at home and in the car on high-pollen days. Use air conditioning on recirculate mode rather than drawing in outside air.
• Shower and change clothes after outdoor time. Pollen sticks to hair, skin, and fabric. Changing clothes and showering after returning indoors reduces the amount of pollen you carry into your living and sleeping spaces.
• Don’t dry laundry outside during pollen season. Sheets and clothing hung outdoors become pollen collectors. Use a dryer during peak weeks.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors. They reduce pollen contact with eyes — a simple barrier that helps with the itchy, watery eye symptoms that distinguish allergies from colds.
• Consider a nasal saline rinse. Rinsing nasal passages with saline solution (neti pot or squeeze bottle) after outdoor exposure can flush pollen and reduce symptom severity. Use distilled or previously boiled water, not tap water.
• Wipe down pets after outdoor time. Dogs and cats that go outside bring pollen in on their fur. A quick wipe before they come inside reduces indoor pollen levels.

Getting Relief: What the Options Look Like

Multiple over-the-counter and prescription options can help manage seasonal allergy symptoms. Choosing the right approach depends on individual symptoms, medical history, and other medications — which is why consulting a pharmacist or clinician is the recommended starting point.

Over-the-Counter Options Commonly Discussed with Clinicians

• Non-drowsy antihistamines (second-generation: cetirizine, loratadine, fexofenadine) help with sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes without the sedation associated with older antihistamines. This distinction matters for workplace performance — older first-generation antihistamines (like diphenhydramine) can cause drowsiness, impaired concentration, and slowed reaction time. Research estimates that the sedating effects of older antihistamines account for a significant portion of allergy-related productivity losses.
• Intranasal corticosteroid sprays are often considered by allergists to be among the most effective single treatments for nasal allergy symptoms. Several are available over the counter. They tend to work with consistent daily use rather than as-needed application.
• Antihistamine eye drops can help with itchy, watery eyes that oral antihistamines don’t fully address.

When to See an Allergist

Consider consulting an allergist if:

• Over-the-counter medications don’t provide adequate symptom relief
• Symptoms significantly disrupt sleep, work concentration, or daily activities
• Symptoms persist across multiple seasons or occur year-round
• You want to identify specific pollen triggers through testing

An allergist can perform testing to identify specific triggers and may discuss immunotherapy (allergy shots or sublingual tablets) — a treatment approach that can reduce sensitivity to specific allergens over time, rather than just managing symptoms.

Note: this blog describes common allergy management categories, not treatment recommendations. A pharmacist or healthcare provider can help determine the right approach for individual circumstances.

At Work: Small Accommodations That Go a Long Way

For employers, the question isn’t whether allergies affect the workforce — the data confirms they do, at higher productivity cost than conditions that get more attention. The question is what reasonable, low-cost accommodations can help.

• Indoor breaks on high-pollen days for employees who work partially or fully outdoors. Even 10–15 minutes in a filtered indoor environment can provide symptom relief during peak exposure periods.
• Air filtration in shared workspaces. HEPA filters reduce airborne pollen in office environments. Many commercial HVAC systems can be set to recirculate indoor air rather than drawing in outside air during high-pollen days — a simple settings adjustment with meaningful impact.
• Flexibility around peak symptom hours. For some employees, the worst symptoms occur in early morning when pollen counts are highest. An adjusted start time or the option to work remotely on the highest-count days can preserve both wellbeing and productivity.
• Normalizing the conversation. When teams understand that allergies reduce concentration, disrupt sleep, and impair cognitive function — and that this affects one in four colleagues — the “it’s just allergies” dismissal decreases. Employees are more likely to seek effective treatment when they don’t feel they need to minimize what they’re experiencing.

The Bottom Line

Seasonal allergies affect more than one in four American adults. Grass pollen season peaks in June and July, and the 2026 season is running above historical averages in many regions. The impact goes well beyond discomfort — research shows allergic rhinitis costs employers more per employee in lost productivity than stress, migraine, or depression.

The combination of reducing pollen exposure (check counts, keep windows closed, shower after outdoor time) and using appropriate, non-sedating medication can meaningfully improve both symptoms and work performance. For persistent cases, an allergist can identify specific triggers and discuss longer-term treatment options.

One in four of your colleagues is dealing with this right now. Taking it seriously — as a real health and productivity issue, not a minor inconvenience — is the starting point for doing something about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common are seasonal allergies in American adults?

Approximately 25.7% of U.S. adults — more than 1 in 4 — have diagnosed seasonal allergies (CDC/NHIS, 2021). That translates to roughly 67 million adults. Seasonal allergies are the most common allergic condition in the U.S. adult population.

What causes summer allergies specifically?

Grass pollen is the primary trigger from late May through July. Common grass pollens include Bermuda grass, Timothy grass, and Kentucky bluegrass. Tree pollen dominates earlier spring, and weed pollen (especially ragweed) dominates late summer into fall. Allergy seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer due to warmer temperatures and higher CO₂ levels.

How do you tell seasonal allergies from a summer cold?

Key distinguishing signs: allergies commonly include itchy, watery eyes (colds rarely do); allergy symptoms track pollen counts and can last weeks or months (colds resolve in 7–10 days); allergies produce clear, watery discharge (cold discharge often thickens); colds can cause fever and body aches (allergies do not).

How do seasonal allergies affect work performance?

Research found that allergic rhinitis costs employers $593 per employee per year in productivity losses — more than stress ($518), migraine ($277), or depression ($273). Employees average 52.5 symptomatic days per year but only 3.6 sick days, losing approximately 2.3 hours of productivity per symptomatic workday through presenteeism (Lamb et al., JOEM).

When should you see an allergist instead of using OTC medications?

Consider an allergist consultation if over-the-counter medications don’t provide adequate relief, if symptoms significantly disrupt sleep or work, if symptoms persist across multiple seasons, or if you want to identify specific triggers through testing. An allergist can discuss immunotherapy options that may reduce sensitivity to specific allergens over time.

Key Takeaways

• More than 1 in 4 U.S. adults (25.7%) have seasonal allergies. Grass pollen peaks from late May through July, and the 2026 season is running above average in many regions.
• Allergic rhinitis costs employers $593 per employee per year in productivity losses — more than stress, migraine, depression, or anxiety (Lamb et al., JOEM). Presenteeism, not sick days, drives the majority of the cost.
• Employees with allergies average 52.5 symptomatic days per year but take only 3.6 sick days. They’re at work, functioning at reduced capacity, for roughly 49 days a year.
• Key allergy-vs-cold distinction: itchy watery eyes, symptoms that track pollen counts and last weeks, no fever. A cold resolves in 7–10 days.
• Reducing exposure (check pollen counts, keep windows closed, shower after outdoor time) and using non-sedating medications can meaningfully improve both symptoms and work performance.
• Small workplace accommodations — indoor breaks on high-pollen days, air filtration, flexible scheduling — support the one in four employees affected without significant cost or complexity.

Published by LifeX Research Corp. LifeX Research Corporation is a health data research organization that analyzes real-world health trends and population health patterns. The organization operates in connection with an ERISA-governed, self-funded employee benefit plan and does not sell, market, broker, or underwrite health insurance.