Offering private medical insurance for employees is "a win-win situation", according to one expert.
Jonathan French, spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI), explained that such cover is not just a perk, but it also makes good business sense.
He said: "[It is] something which employers can rely on to ensure that if they have employees who are sick or get injured, they will be able to return to work more quickly than would otherwise be the case."
Companies with such a programme in place will find that sick and injured staff are treated more swiftly than they would have been without private medical cover, he added.
There is a growing trend for firms to provide such cover, Mr French stated.
A recent survey of GPs, businesses and consumers by Norwich Union found that 64 per cent of firms believe that their employees' wellbeing has a direct impact on productivity.
