Cultural differences between public and private sector workers and resistance to modern managing techniques have been blamed for the contrast in absence levels.

The average rate for public sector workers stood at 9 days, 55% higher than the 5.8 day average of public sector workers.

Rob Don, CBI Policy adviser, said: “In the private sector long-term absence made up 31% [of the total time lost] but in the public sector long-term absence accounted for 50% and that is really down to better management of the issue.”