Annual cost of absence is £12 billion

Sickness absence costs the UK economy £12 billion a year, according to new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates.

Absences in the private sector make up about two-thirds of the total, with stress alone accounting for £3.7 billion across all sectors.

The figures come from the 2004/05 Self reported work-related illness survey, the results of which will be published in full later this year.