Small firms can play a big role in helping to tackle ill health in the workplace - something which now costs the country around £100 billion a year, according to a new study.
The report, Working for a Healthier Tomorrow, contains a number of recommendations aimed at reducing sickness levels, some of which are aimed directly at businesses.
Dame Carol Black's report claims that "good health is good business", with the initial outlay of health and wellbeing programmes being surpassed by financial benefits in the longer term.
However, small firms which are looking to set up such schemes need to bear in mind that there is no one size fits all system and that each employee will have their own needs, which the employer has to cater to, the report says.
It adds that staff at all levels, including management, will need to participate in schemes to ensure that they are a success.
Dame Carol's report, the first ever national review of the health of the workforce, was published on Monday.
