OBJECTIVES: The work absenteeism due to care for a sick person can be considered as indirect costs of illness. This study aimed at assessing the global burden of caring for the ill on productivity in Poland. METHODS: Data were obtained from a survey that incorporated information on a burden of caring for the sick and the WPAI-GH questionnaire during computer-assisted personal interview in a representative sample of the Polish general population aged more than 15 years. There were 2019 respondents, gathered in two waves in January and May 2010. Human capital approach was used with GDP per capita as a measure for the monetary value of a time unit (€4.2 per hour). RESULTS: The final population comprised 795 employees among whom 167 respondents (21%) took care for a sick person in the last 12 months – 78 (10%), 74 (9%), and 19 (2%) responders took care for a child, other family member and non-family member, respectively. On average a respondent spent 9 hours a day (h/d) taking care of a sick person for an average period of 21 days (11 h/d for 14 d caring for a child; 7 h/d for 23 d caring for other family member; 13 h/d for 22 d caring for non-family member). These 9 hours were reduced working time (3,4 h) and off-work activities (5.6 h). Estimated productivity lost equals €303 on average per year for individuals looking after the ill and €11 on average per year for each employee. CONCLUSIONS: Caring for the sick, mostly family members, influences working time of Polish employees. Productivity loss of a single employee has a moderate impact on production, but in global scale or in specific health condition it might be perceived as an important factor modifying indirect costs of illness.