Aviva has called on the government to offer incentives to employers who offer workplace health and rehabilitation services to address sickness absence.
The provider's call came as it revealed research that two thirds of businesses believe it is employers and employees joint responsibility to help workers back into the workplace following sickness absence.
However less than one in ten of those that do not offer health-related benefits are planning to take out cover for their staff in the next 12 months.
The study from Aviva found that only 2% of employers believe it is the government's responsibility to help their staff return to work following a period of ill health, with 63% suggesting it is a shared obligation.
Nearly a quarter of employers (21%) think it is the staff member's responsibility, compared to one in eight businesses (12%) who feel that it is solely up to them.
The provider's survey showed that 63% of employers currently offer their staff one or more health-related benefits.
Of those that didn't offer any health-related benefits, 7% are planning to take out additional cover in the next year.
However if budget was available, the majority of employers would choose to take out group income protection (21%) or implement a workplace wellness programme (20%).
This comes as the government is conducting a review of the welfare system to examine the role employers can play in helping control the country's sickness absence bill alongside the introduction of its work programme.
Steve Bridger, head of group risk at Aviva UK Health, believes the results illustrate a positive trend from employers.
"They are a key stakeholder in the welfare reform agenda so it is great to see that they recognise the essential role they have to play in helping their employees return to work following a period of sickness absence," he said.
"We believe that the government should be incentivising and rewarding employers that invest in workplace health and rehabilitation services.
"Not only can these benefits help speed an employee's return to work by giving them access to support that isn't readily available from the state, but a pro-active approach is also likely to deliver financial rewards," he added.
