3 Ways Employers Can Support Caregivers and Employees Dealing With Cancer
Blue Daily
| 3 min read
It’s likely we all know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. In fact, about 39% of Americans will develop cancer in their lifetime. While the risk of developing cancer rises as people age, about 44% of cancer diagnoses are for people age 64 and younger. That means that in prime working years, some of your employees could be facing a scary, financially burdensome disease. Others may be caring for a parent, spouse or other loved one navigating cancer treatment and recovery.
For employers, this means that supporting employees and caregivers is key when developing benefit packages and workplace policies. Here are three ways employers can demonstrate their commitment to their employees’ whole health:
- Implement flexible work policies. Employees and caregivers may have quite a few appointments with health care providers that they’ll need to juggle. Those undergoing treatment may also be dealing with side effects like nausea, fatigue and pain. As much as possible, consider how your work policies can accommodate these employees, whether that means working from home, flexing their hours, taking more frequent breaks as needed or taking time off work.
- Share mental health resources. Whether your company offers an employee assistance program, virtual behavioral health services or a strong network of in-person providers, make sure employees know how to take advantage of those resources. Depression and anxiety are particularly common among those with cancer, and caregivers are not immune from the stress of helping a loved one.
- Consider offering virtual nutrition resources. Malnutrition is common among those with cancer, affecting up to 75% of cancer patients. It can have a significant impact on outcomes for those with cancer, including decreased response to therapy and higher mortality rates. Malnutrition also leads to more emergency department visits and longer stays in the hospital. Virtual nutrition counseling is one way employers can offer convenient access to registered dietitians and nutritionists who can help employees navigate how to get the right nutrition when it’s likely they don’t feel well.
Hear more from our experts in our upcoming Master Class webinar, How Cancer Care Benefits Can Support Better Outcomes and Avoid Costly Complications, we will discuss:
- The latest news about cancer prevalence and trends in the U.S.
- How employer benefits can encourage preventive screenings — and support employees who receive a cancer diagnosis
- Strategies for mitigating the financial burden of cancer care for both employers and employees
- Tools and resources employers can use to support their employees
Join us from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday, April 10.
Can’t make it? The session will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing within 24 hours of the webinar. To view the recording and previous Master Class webinars, visit bcbsmmasterclass.com.
This course is certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute® (HRCI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for continuing education credit and has been approved for one HR recertification credit hour through HR Certification Institute®. The course has also been approved for one continuing education credit hour through the State of Michigan for sales representatives and agents.
Image: Getty Images
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