Cancer is the second leading cause of death in New York State. However, early detection of cancer can save lives by finding cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful and before some cancers even start. For this reason, The Cancer Services Program of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie is currently working with local employers to implement paid time off or flextime policies for colorectal, cervical and breast cancer screenings in their workplaces.
Studies have found that paid leave benefits in the workplace encourage staff to make regular visits to primary care physicians and obtain routine cancer screenings. Early detection and treatment not only lead to better health outcomes, but also reduce overall health care costs for both the employer and employee. According to researchers, these benefits outweigh the cost of providing leave for preventative screenings. Cancer prevention also makes good business sense. It is estimated that an employee diagnosed with cancer costs an employer more than $1,600 annually in lost productivity. In addition to saving lives, preventative cancer screenings reduce health care costs, improve workforce health and reduce related business expenditures. If you are employer and interested in this issue, and would like more information on implementing paid leave time or flextime for cancer screenings in your organization, contact The Cancer Services Program at 1-888-345-0225 for assistance. Working together, we can support a healthy workforce and lower healthcare costs in our communities.
Stephanie Thorne
Education/Outreach Specialist
