"Absence from work due to sickness has become an issue of major importance to employers as the direct and indirect costs involved are substantial. The 2004 Confederation of British Industry report found that workplace absence had risen for the first time in five years. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) collects information about sickness absence in a reference week. In spring 2004, some 1.7 million scheduled working days were lost to sickness absence and 2.9 per cent of employees took at least one day off work because of sickness or injury. Particular groups of employees are more likely than others to be absent from work due to sickness. Female employees and younger employees most likely to be absent from work due to sicknessThis article looks at some of the individual characteristics associated with higher levels of absence including age, sex, family type, disability and occupation. Other sources of information on sickness absence are also summarised in the article in order to present a more complete picture about levels and reasons for absence in the UK."

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