What Are You Doing This Week to Improve Workplace Well-being?

Prioritising employee well-being has become crucial for organisations aiming to foster a healthy and productive workforce. With the potential to prevent 50% of all cancer cases through lifestyle adjustments, it is essential for workplace wellness providers, employee assistance programs (EAPs), health care insurance providers, and employers to incorporate wellness programmes focused on specialised cancer research and measurable outcomes. So, do you, as a workplace wellness provider, EAP, health care insurance provider, employer, or employee, already have a successful workplace wellness programme?

Here we look at the key elements needed for a programme that will genuinely empower individuals within an organisation to lower the risk of cancer and other chronic illnesses; to support those that have recently been diagnosed with cancer; dealing with the emotional and physical effects of cancer treatments; when medical appointments are over; reintegration back into the workforce, and guidance for caregivers of loved ones.

1. Expertise and Specialization

The most successful workplace wellness programmes are designed by medical professionals, certified Health Coaches, specialists in oncology, experts in behavioural science, cancer survivors, and patient advocacy groups. These programmes provide unparalleled access to experts who understand cancer in a lifestyle context, ensuring a comprehensive approach to employee well-being.

2. Measurable Outcomes

Best-in-class programmes gauge their success against industry-accepted standards, including Quality of Life and Mental Health Scales. By focusing on measurable outcomes, organisations can track the effectiveness of their wellness programmes and make data-driven decisions to continuously improve employee well-being.

3. Tailored Learning Journeys

Successful workplace wellness and employee assistance programmes offer a tailored learning journey that resonates uniquely with each individual. By understanding the diverse needs and preferences of employees, organisations can provide personalised resources and strategies that empower individuals to make positive lifestyle changes.

4. Behavioral Change Modification

World-class programmes recognize that lasting change requires a focus on behavioural change modification. By championing lifestyle interventions that enhance overall health, combat burnout, and equip individuals with effective stress-coping strategies, these programmes create a thriving workplace culture that supports employee well-being.

5. Community Engagement

Community engagement is the secret sauce to behaviour change. The best workplace wellness programmes are expertly curated by behavioural science professionals and include interactive activities and a dynamic online community. By fostering a sense of belonging and support, organisations can enhance employee engagement and motivation to adopt healthier lifestyles.

6. One-on-One Cancer Coaching

The significant impact of cancer in the workplace affects organisations and their employees.

Responsible for more fatalities than the combined toll of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, cancer presently stands as the second most prevalent cause of death worldwide. Impacting individuals across all age groups, socioeconomic strata, and genders, cancer places an immense weight on patients, families, institutions, and communities.

1. In the US, approximately 45% of people diagnosed with cancer are aged 20 to 64 years.
2. In Australia, 40% of people diagnosed with cancer are aged 25–64 years.
3. In the UK, 125,000 people of working age are diagnosed with cancer each year.
4. In the US, gaps in laws meant that people still faced discrimination for taking sick-days for cancer treatment.
5. In the UK, 1 in 5 people were discriminated against because of their cancer.
6. Cancer survivors are 1.4 times more likely to be unemployed than the general population: Many struggle with little or no coordinated support to remain in work following treatment.
7. The longer people remain off work, the more likely they are to fall out of work completely.
8. Almost 50% of those diagnosed with cancer in the workplace had to make changes to their working lives after cancer, and 40% had to change jobs or leave work altogether.

To support employees navigating a cancer diagnosis, during treatment, or transitioning back to work post-treatment, workplace wellness programmes should be focused on specialised cancer research and measurable outcomes. They should also offer one-on-one cancer coaching. These programmes provide resources and support to mitigate the adverse effects of cancer treatment, improve treatment outcomes, and prepare individuals physically and emotionally for a successful return to the workplace.

Next Steps

Learn more about what you can do to improve the wellbeing of employees in the Workplace Wellness State of the Market Report 2023: The Unprepared Reality of Cancer in the Workplace and How to Safeguard Your Organisation.