Band 4+: The graph below shows the percentage of workers from five different European countries that were absent for a day or more due to illness from 1991 to 2001.

The line graph gives information about absence at work because of an illness in 5 different counties in Europe between 1991 and 2001.

Overall, it’s clear that the Netherlands and France was the only countries which showed an increase. While , figure decreased in Sweden. Other 2 countries UK and Germany maintain the same level over the period.

Looking at the information in more detail, the percentage of staffs who take a day off due to illness in 1992 in the Netherlands started with 6%, after which it saw a dramatic decrease to almost 4.5% in 1996, however, before ending the period in 2001 it reached to 6% again.During that time, France remain steady until 1996 like the Netherlands but, it increased sharply following 5 years and peaked up the same level as the Netherlands (6%)

Regarding with, Sweden which followed the opposite trend. In 1991 Sweden reduced approximately from 5% to 3%. Nevertheless,the proportion of workers with sickness absence in Sweden significantly increased by 1.75%, peaking at 4.75% in 2001. Other two countries the UK and Germany had an alike constant tendency, one of them was approximately 2.5% and the other was 1.5%, respectively.