Fifty-eight per cent of UK managers say ill health makes them unproductive for at least 20% of their working week.

According to the study by the Chartered Management Institute and Workplace Health Connect, illness rates are growing but managers feel reluctant to report their sickness.

Sixty percent of the 1,541 managers quizzed felt that illness levels had risen in their organisation over the past year, but only a third reported their own afflictions to their line manager.

The survey claims that while 38% of managers have trouble concentrating due to illness, businesses are still not doing enough to solve the problem.

Just 28% of UK organisations provide training for occupational illness, and managing absence is only covered by 35%.

The research claims that the physical and psychological health of staff is improved by health initiatives and benefits, yet only 37% of companies offer health screenings and only 42% provide stress management advice.

Elizabeth Gyngell, programme director at Workplace Health Connect, said: “Poor health in the workplace can affect many aspects of the business from obvious issues such as absenteeism to real declines in productivity. Much more needs to be done to ensure systems are in place.”