Cancer In the Crosshairs
More HR organizations are taking up the battle against cancer in the workplace, piecing together an increasing number of programs to help employees deal with the disease.
Original article on Human Resources Executive Online
Several years ago, Mary Bradley, director of health-plan strategy at the Pitney Bowes offices in Shelton, Conn., was speaking at a conference about the challenges employers face regarding employees with cancer. As she spoke, she captured the attention of Terry Langbaum, chief administrative officer at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore.
At the time, Langbaum and her colleagues were in the throes of creating a web-based program called Managing Cancer at Work. After the session, she asked Bradley to consider piloting the program for roughly six months.
Bradley was intrigued. Every year, roughly 1.5 percent of Pitney's 10,500 U.S. employees are diagnosed with some form of cancer. She says the disease is responsible for the company's highest medical and pharmacy spend, claiming approximately $9 million in 2013.
Last October, the Stamford, Conn.-based global technology company launched the program. Within the first few weeks, the website had thousands of hits.
Original source: Human Resources Executive Online
