Some international trends in sickness absence 1950–68

Annual sickness absence rates in Great Britain since 1950 have been compared with similar measurements obtained from eight other countries. Frequency has tended to rise more than severity, indicating a shortening of the average length of a spell. The rise in British rates is not unique, and has been exceeded in Sweden, Holland, Italy, and West Germany. From the Swedish experience with self-certification some caution is necessary before recommending its adoption in Britain.