Physical injury does not hold the title for the longest work absences, but MENTAL health issues do.

According to the figures that the Bureau of Statistics publication, Australian Social Trends, June 2011 illustrated, that  there are around 55 percent of people suffering from stress, or other mental conditions on their job  forced to take five or more sick days in a row when compared to people who take work absences because of other causes.

The finding shows that those individuals working with mild levels of depression tend to be absent more time than any employees. To date, there is more than 20 percent of the working population experiencing mild levels of depression.

The second largest workplace absence contributor is fracture, with over 54 percent of workers with broken bones cannot work for a week or more.

At an average, those workers who are experiencing mental disorder because of their job take 10.8 weeks off.  Experts claim that the mental state is cause by workplace bullying and harassment, other factor that contributes to mental disorder is heavy workloads.

The bureau report also illustrates that 53 out of every 1000 workers is suffering from work-related injury or illness. Work-related injuries and illnesses sum up to $60 billion yearly.  The accommodation and food services industry are at greater risk.

In a separate data Separate data for federal public servants, the data reveal that the increasing rates rise to 54 percent on mental stress which has occur during the last five years.

Comcare, a governing body for regulating federal work health, say that, despite the fact that injury compensation claimed by government workers fell in the same period.  It is a general concern for all people.

The general manager for Work Health and Safety at Comcare, Neil Quarmby says mental stress claims already accounted for less than 22 percent of all serious claims, which involves a week or more off work absences during the last 12 months.

Mr Quarmby says such risk factor should be immediately dealt with by the employers.  The bosses should also be aware of signs indicating the mental health problems.

Maureen Dolard of Centre for Applied Psychological Research at the University of South Australia says, most of the time stress results from the pressure that employees are enduring on a daily basis.  Managers are more concerned about the quantity of work rather than the quality of work produce.

Managers should take into consideration what would this pushing workers to work harder would do for their underlings.