Many businesses do not believe it is their responsibility to do so.

One third of employers do not have financial support in place for employees on long-term sick leave, research shows.

A study carried out for trade body Group Risk Development (GRiD) found that 32% of businesses do not have a support plan in place for staff who are absent for more than six months owing to ill health, disability or injury.

The research suggests that half of these employers claim they can not afford to provide this financial support and a third do not believe it is their responsibility.

Fifteen per cent of employers said they fund financial support themselves rather than via a group risk policy.

GRiD also surveyed employees and found a quarter of them did not know whether their employer offers this financial support.

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