Small businesses in Ireland lost 692 million Euros ($873,893,654) due to absenteeism last year. According to the Small Firms Association (SFA) stress is now the main cause of absence. A total of 5.8 million days were lost to absenteeism in 2005.The SFA estimated the cost to business of days lost through illness by applying sick pay schemes based on average earnings of 120 Euros ($151) per day. The figure takes no account of other direct costs such as the requirement to replace absent staff with other workers or overtime payments, and the cost of medical referrals.
