Britons recognise the benefits of being in work and support GPs in deciding when they should return to work, according to new research.
However the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) study found the public is less convinced that employers should have a say in when they should resume working.
The Attitudes to health and work amongst the working age population report appears to give further support to the use of Fit Notes by doctors.
And the results will also prove useful for the current sickness and absence review being carried out for the government.
Overall it found that just over 80% of respondents believed work is good for both physical and mental health, although this was slightly more strongly felt by those in employment than not.
The vast majority (91%) of respondents said that they would go to work with a short term condition but significantly fewer (around 60%) said they would go into work if they suffered from long-term physical and mental health conditions.
Respondents who were in employment were likely to say they would go to work under all the hypothetical scenarios posed compared to those not employed.
With long-term conditions, respondents would want their GP to advise them not go to work but would not necessarily make the same decision by themselves.
The issue of presenteeism is also indicated by some of the results, with 79% of respondents reporting they went into work in the last 12 months despite feeling quite unwell.
Slightly fewer (72%) indicated that it was very or quite normal for people to work when they were quite unwell.
The top three reasons why were non-financial: "I was too busy at work", "I wasn't ill enough" and "I thought I would feel better if I went into work".
Overall there was strong support for GPs (91%) and moderate support for employers (53%) to have a say in the length of time individuals should be signed off due to ill health.
Respondents also felt employers should have a role when employees were ill, with the majority of the working-age population agreeing (around 80%) that employers should take steps to help employees with long-term conditions to carry on working.
Dr Suchi Collingwood, author of the report and a senior scientific officer at the DWP, noted: "The findings are broadly positive and show that the health benefits of work are widely recognised among the working-age population, but the findings suggest there may be a need to raise awareness among those out of work on the positive impact work can have on mental health.
"The ‘Fit note' was introduced in April 2010 and is designed to support individuals to remain in employment and facilitate an earlier return to work following a period of ill-health.
"The findings will help to inform policy as we look to further embed the ‘Fit note' with employers, GPs and patients alike," she added.
