OBJECTIVES: To quantify the work productivity loss induced by chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. METHODS: A systematic and computerized search was performed in the literature published in English from 2000 to 2011 in Pubmed. The search terms were: ‘crohn disease’, ‘spondylitis, ‘ankylosing’, ‘psoriasis’, ‘rheumatoid arthritis’, ‘work productivity’, ‘productivity’, ‘absenteeism’, ‘sick leave’ and ‘employment status’. Number of days of absenteeism and presenteeism, and their estimated costs were extracted. Mean duration of work productivity loss per patient was annualized. Mean costs per patient were annualized, converted in Euros and actualized to 2010 using exchange rates and price indexes provided by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. RESULTS: Eighteen publications were analyzed: 4 for rheumatoid arthritis, 6 for ankylosing spondylitis, 5 for psoriasis and 3 for Crohn’s disease. Available information for each condition is presented hereafter. In rheumatoid arthritis, absenteeism ranged from 25 to 56 days per year and presenteeism was estimated to 55 days. The mean cost of absenteeism in this condition ranged from €709 to €10,166. In ankylosing spondylitis, annual absenteeism ranged from 6 to 65 days, which represented €726 to €2,532 per patient. Presenteeism was estimated to 14 days loss with an associated annual cost of €1,027. In psoriasis, annual absenteeism ranged from 3 to 14 days and presenteeism from 16 to 35 days. The costs of work productivity loss (absenteeism + presenteeism) in psoriasis ranged from €1,675 to €6,300. In Crohn’s disease, annual absenteeism was of 120 days per patient in median, which represented a cost of €4,745. No data on presenteeism was found. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases have a high impact on work productivity loss due to both number of days at work lost and decreased performance with substantial costs.