ACC (Accident & Compensation Corporation) director of clinical services Kevin Morris said the report focussed on identifying ways to keep injured workers "safely engaged" in the workforce.

"We are hoping that the position paper will be a tipping point in New Zealand, when the community starts to take on board the message that safely recovering at work delivers real heath benefits for injured people," he said.

"New Zealand must wake up to this message and embrace the health benefits of work." Dr Morris said ACC was developing a range of early intervention services with doctors, employers and patients to make workplace rehabilitation easier, including the Better@Work trial. The trial offered injured employees support to remain at work or reduce the amount of sick leave taken.

Eric Bakker ND’s comment: This report highlights what many health experts have known for years - when people are happily employed it reflects on less absenteism and much better long term health.  The stress of not being able to work with loss of self-esteem and income is devastating for many employees. The adrenal glands are not just pivotal in helping a person recover from the physical effects of stress, but the emotional and psychological effects as well.