Long story short: Do a health and wellness checkup for your employees

By Alyssa Place, This is my expertise

Published April 8, 2022 11:20 AM EDT 2 Min Read

A health challenge can be an unexpected hurdle for employees. Employers can play a role in making sure they have the support and benefits they need to get them on the road to recovery.

In our top stories this week, employers are exploring ways to help employees through serious health concerns, like a cancer diagnosis or long COVID. Cancer survivor and CEO Liya Shuster-Bier founded Alula, which provides resources for cancer patients and caregivers. She shared how her boss supported her through a leave of absence for treatment, and how to facilitate open conversations with a manager around an employee’s care needs.

Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is a reality for many Americans. Data from Johns Hopkins in 2017 found that 5% of the workforce has a history of cancer, and of that group 27% are likely to be actively in treatment for cancer. The same study found that employers lose out on $139 billion associated with decreased productivity and lost work time for cancer treatment or cancer-related caregiving.

“My cancer diagnosis really helped me pause and reevaluate what a lot of people are evaluating right now with the Great Resignation,” Liya Shuster-Bier, CEO of Alula, told reporter Shelby Rosenberg. And it launched her on a journey that would not just redefine her life and career, but also help other folks fighting cancer — and their support systems — find the guidance they crave.

Alyssa Place

Editor-in-chief

Alyssa Place is the editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News and has been with the team since 2019. Her work covers mental health, DEI, women at work, financial wellness, retirement and workplace … Read full bio

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