Patients with asthma had more periods of absence from work compared to patients with COPD (16.0% vs 12.8%, p < 0.0001), revealed an observational, real-life study in Spain. The number of days absent were, however, less in asthma than in COPD (median: 15 days [IQR: 5–51] vs 39 days [IQR: 13–134], p < 0.001). Patients with asthma–COPD overlap were in between (14.5% with absence; median: 27 days [IQR: 10–82]). Comorbid anxiety, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnoea were independently associated with more work absence. The study assessed work absence of 14,383 asthma and/or COPD patients present in the MAJORICA cohort (Spain) compared with the general population. Comorbid anxiety, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnoea were independently associated with more work absence.