Companies based in the north of England are more likely to have higher sickness absence rates than those based in the south.

Studies have shown that businesses in the north lose on average 11.3 days per employee each year due to sickness compared to 7.8 days in London and the south-east.

The level of employee absence in the UK has increased for the first time in two years, according to research from The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). On average 3.7% of working time is now lost compared to 3.5% in 2006.

Ben Willmott, employee relations adviser at the CIPD, said: “High absence costs businesses on average £659 per employee per year but still many employers are failing to tackle this through effective people management.

“Employers need to monitor and measure long and short-term absence effectively so they can take action early and provide support as an individuals’ condition deteriorates to the point they go on long-term sick leave.”