Healthcare professionals need to engage more with employers to help people with long-term health problems return to work, according to the Institute for Employment Studies (IES).

Asda will provide healthcare benefits to its 165,000-strong workforce.

Eight out of 10 (81%) employers now publicly report their commitment to health and wellbeing compared with 68% in 2007.

HR magazine has teamed up with HSF Health Plan to find an inspirational worker who has overcome an illness and returned to work.

The cost of providing employee healthcare rose by 5% in 2007.

Three quarters of HR professionals say they are aware of "extreme working" within their organisation, with employees working through incapacity or illness.

Rossendale Council has asked all its line managers to come up with ways to help improve staff wellbeing.

Employee Advisory Resource (EAR) has launched the first employee assistance programme (EAP) geared specifically for small and medium-sized businesses.

Many employers do not know how to deal with staff suffering from long-term illnesses. Only the enlightened few, it seems, have supportive return-to-work policies.

Cash-strapped workers are risking their health because they cannot afford the rising price of medical check-ups.

NHS Direct is to provide eye care vouchers to all of its 3,300 visual display unit (VDU) users.

Almost half of UK businesses are risking employees health by using unsuitable office equipment.