Productivity and motivation in the workplace have increased for 9 out of ten companies that introduced health benefits this year, Aviva has reported.
Sickness absence also reduced for 83% of companies who introduced new benefits. And two thirds of bosses said there was an increased focus on morale and wellbeing as staff will need to work harder in 2013, according to the insurer's Health of the Workplace report.
A quarter said a pressurised work environment had become the norm with a recognition of the prevalence of stress and associated mental and physical illness; early intervention was high on the agenda for business leaders.
Dr Doug Wright, medical director at Aviva, UK Health, said: "We're already seeing the scale and impact that today's ‘normal' pressurised work environment has on sickness and absence levels amongst UK workers.
"Stress and related illnesses will continue to be the number one concern for UK employers for the foreseeable future and it's in the interest of companies to review their employee health offer to help them achieve the business priorities they have set themselves for 2013."
The top priorities for businesses in 2013 are improving staff motivation, productivity and wellbeing and reducing sickness absence.
The report found 30% of UK employers offered private medical insurance and one in ten had introduced health related benefits in the last year.
The most popular initiatives introduced were counselling services, discount gym memberships, cycle to work schemes and private medical insurance.
