OBJECTIVES: Examine the incremental costs of absenteeism and short-term disability associated with colorectal cancer (CRC).  METHODS:  The MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE) and Health and Productivity Management (HPM) databases were used to identify patients age 18-64 diagnosed with CRC, with first such date identified as the index date.  Patients were also required to have continuous insurance coverage and be included in the HPM database from 6 months prior through 12 months post index date.  These cases were matched 1:1 without replacement based upon age, sex, and region of residence and controls were assigned an identical index date as their matched case.  Absenteeism costs in the 1 year post diagnosis were then estimated using a generalized linear model with log link and variance function determined by modified Park test (GLM).   Short-term disability costs were estimated with a two part model where the first part utilized a logistic model to determine the probability of having a short-term disability claim and the second part is a GLM model for patients who had such a claim. The analyses controlled for patient characteristics, prior medical costs, and general health.  RESULTS:  Patients with colorectal cancer in this study (N=165) were mostly male (75.76%) with a mean age of 52 years.  Patients with colorectal cancer were significantly less likely to be insured via point-of-service insurance (45.45% v 79.39%; p<0.0001) but more likely to be insured via a preferred provider organization (44.24% v 7.88%; P<0.0001) compared to their healthy matches (N=165).  After controlling for patient characteristics, prior medical costs and general health, patients with colorectal cancer experienced, on average, $6,075  higher short-term disability costs (P<0.0001) and $3,633 higher absenteeism costs (P<0.0001) in the 1 year post diagnosis of CRC.  CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that CRC is associated with significant work-related productivity loss costs in the first year post diagnosis.