Staff who are suffering from musculoskeletal problems such as back pain and lower limb disorders should be given more help by public liability insurance holders.
Shadow health minister Anne Milton said that these types of injuries cost society over £7 billion each year, as they effect around 6.5 million people in the UK.
Ms Milton stated that it was important that policy-makers and employers take more positive steps to offer support to staff struggling with these problems.
"We need to rise to this challenge in order to help restore economic growth and refocus on capacity rather than incapacity, which costs individuals and taxpayers dearly," she added.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions added that current welfare reforms are helping to get people back into employment or stay in work rather than ending up on long-term sickness benefits.
The Health and Safety Executive is currently funding a two-year study in Ireland into how chronic pain impacts on public liability insurance holders.