Workers are taking less time off sick, leaving the UK with one of the lowest absence levels in Europe.

But the cost of absence to British business is rising, up to £10 billion last year, even though the amount of time lost is falling.

Workers took an average of 7.8 days off sick in 1999, down from 8.5 days the previous year, according to the report by the Confederation of British Industry and PPP Healthcare.

Manual workers took 9.2 days sick leave, down from 9.4 days the previous year and 12.1 days in 1989.

Absence among non-manual employees fell from 7.6 days to 6.5 days, the lowest level for five years. The average cost of absence to firms was £438 per worker.

Minor illnesses were the main cause of sickness absence, followed by stress.

"Over the last decade absence from work has been slashed as

part of a business drive for

better cost management," said

John Cridland, the CBI's director

of human resources policy.

"There are no grounds for complacency. Absence still costs business £10 billion a year but we are heading in the right direction."

Dudley Lusted, director of PPP Healthcare, said: "The trend is welcome, but it's time to move on and get a better grip on longer-term absence and stress-related problems.

"Tackling their underlying causes and supporting people with early access to medical and psychological care are key to achieving the 5.3 days absence levels currently attained by the best performing companies."

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