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.

Over half of employees aged between 25 and 44 have cited stress as a motivation to drink.

Nearly nine out of 10 (87.5%) employees have no idea how much money they would get from the Government if they were away from work due to long-term illness or injury.

Companies are being urged to vaccinate staff against flu to avoid large-scale sickness absence this winter.

Workers will turn to alcohol, smoking and comfort eating to deal with the rising stress of their jobs, warns The Stroke Association and Siemens.

Royal Mail has been accused of using a "draconian and dictatorial" approach to its absence management policy in the same month it launched a health and safety training scheme.

More than half of UK employers (56%) are unaware of the Welfare Reform Act, which may force them to review their flexible working arrangements or change their group income protection policies.

Royal Mail's investment in staff health pays for itself many times over in terms of reduced absenteeism, rate of return to work after illness and higher productivity

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