Almost a fifth of organisations in Europe have reported an increase in absence over the last year.

A survey of 24 European countries by Mercer shows employees across Europe are absent, on average, 7.4 days a year. But 15% of organisations said the average absence rate for staff is 10 or more days (compared with 12% in 2006).

The highest absence rates were reported in Bulgaria, Norway, Portugal and the Czech Republic and the lowest in Turkey (4.6 days). The UK reports lower than average absence at 5.5 days.

The survey also highlights 21% of employers are unable to measure levels, causes or costs of absence.

More than half (56%) have absence management policies in place, 38% have sick pay arrangements, 37% have case management and occupational health and 36% have return-to-work interviews.

Steve Clements, principal in Mercer's health and benefits business, said: "Absence management remains haphazard at best. Targeted absence management policies and procedures are by no means universally applied and even the ability to quickly and accurately measure absence remains fairly poor.

"At a time when cost is under the microscope, employee absence remains under-managed and presents a great opportunity for savings and improved productivity."