On sick leave

Some 720,000 work absences of two weeks or longer due to illness or disability were reported in 2003, 200,000 of which were work-related. With a median duration of 11 weeks, each of these long-term absences costs roughly $8,800. Furthermore, absences lasting upwards of four months were generally associated with negative health, stress, career stagnation, and heightened chances of being on leave again the following year.