AbstractThis study analysed the intercorrelations between questionnaire data on job satisfaction, mental and physical health and objective data on incidence of, and days lost due to, sickness absence for 236 managers and 377 shopfloor workers. Analysis of all respondents showed significant correlations between the strain scales and sickness absence data, confirming the predictive validity of the scales. For managers, the strain scales correlated well with incidence of sickness absence, but not with days lost. For shopfloor workers, the strain scales correlated well, but the relationship with sickness absence data was more complex. The results suggested important differences between managers and shopfloor workers in their experiences of stress.