McTernan, W.P.Dollard, M.F.LaMontagne, A.2025-12-172025-12-172013Work & Stress, 2013; 27(4):321-3380267-83731464-5335https://hdl.handle.net/1959.8/153330Depression represents an increasing global health epidemic with profound effects in the workplace. Building a business case via the quantification of potentially avertable costs is essential to convince organizations to address depression at work. Our study objectives were to: (1) demonstrate a process path whereby job strain and bullying are related to productivity loss via their effects on depression; (2) estimate the costs to employers of sickness absence and presenteeism that are associated with depression; (3) investigate the relationship between depression severity and costs; and (4) estimate the contribution of job strain and bullying to depression-related productivity loss. A population based telephone survey was conducted across two Australian states (N = 2074), with a one-year follow-up (cohort design). Results confirmed job strain and bullying affected productivity via depressive symptoms. Total national annual employer costs for lost productivity due to depression were estimated at $AUD8 billion per annum, most of which was due to mild depression. We calculated a population-attributable risk (PAR) estimate of 8.7% for depression attributable to bullying and job strain, equating to $AUD693 million in preventable lost productivity costs per annum. Findings suggest that even sub-clinical levels of depression represent a significant productivity and economic burden not previously recognized.enCopyright 2013 Taylor & Francisbullyingcost analysisdepressioneconomyjob strainpresenteeismproductivitysickness absenteeismJournal article10.1080/02678373.2013.846948000326616100001