Seventy-four employed men aged between 18 and 64 years who underwent inguinal hernia repair in hospitals in Oxford, England, during the latter part of 1971 completed questionnaires giving details of their occupation and whether or not they were paid by their employer during illness and for how long. This information was supplemented by data from the hospital notes. With the patients' permission the dates of their return to work were supplied by the Department of Health and Social Security. The average time off work because of herniorrhaphy was 52 days.