The Importance of a Healthy Workforce
As companies begin to understand the value of healthy and happy employees in the
workplace, many have sought to create initiatives that support and benefit their
workers’ health. Creating a work culture in which employees can make empowered
and informed decisions around their health is critical in creating a great place to work.
The business case for this is compelling as well: A healthy workforce positively impacts
the bottom line through increased productivity, improvement in talent retention, and
reductions in employer health care costs.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has a vested interest in improving employee health;
after all, healthy living is an important component of cancer prevention. In the U.S., approximately one in two men and one in three women will develop cancer during their lifetimes, but making small, daily changes can effectively help reduce the risk of cancer.
Helping to support employee health should be a priority for employers, both from
a business perspective and one of social impact. Focusing on employee well-being
ultimately yields better outcomes for everyone, and ACS—with its robust experience
not only in cancer prevention, but in overall health leadership, as well—is a valuable partner in this endeavor.
Maintaining a happy and healthy workforce
is critical in building a collaborative, well-functioning organization. Healthy employees are empowered to do their best work, while poor worker health can have significant financial ramifications for companies, both in health care expenses and lost productivity. Mitigating cancer risk is particularly important, as the disease poses a significant health risk to workers, and is associated with the greatest health care–related cost for employers.
Employee Health Has a Major Impact
By the
Numbers
21 M+
workers nationwide
experienced health-related
issues in 2021
$530 B
yearly cost of poor
worker health to
U.S. businesses
SOURCES: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Johns Hopkins Medicine
ACS can be a strategic partner in improving employee health and well-being in impactful and lasting ways. With more than 100 years of experience helping communities to mitigate barriers to care and aiding people in reducing their risk of cancer through advocacy and research efforts, ACS is well-positioned
to help companies create a competitive advantage
that translates to better business and happier, healthier employees.
A Strategic Partnership
to Build a Healthy
Workforce
Creating and Sustaining a Healthy Workforce
Achieves Three Different Goals
Making small changes to daily habits can have a big effect on overall health. In partnership with ACS, employers can help workers make healthier choices every day, which will, in turn, have a positive effect on health outcomes—and can improve a business’s productivity and profits.
Concrete
Steps Toward
Healthy Living
Happier, healthier
employees
Reducing
cancer risk
Improving the
bottom line
1
2
3
Getting Active and
Eating Healthy
1
18%
of cancers are attributable to excess body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, and/or
poor nutrition.
Provide standing desks and offer initiatives that allow employees to sit less—and move more—during the workday.
How employers can help
Provide non-alcoholic alternatives to culture-building events like company happy hours.
Limit highly processed, sugar-sweetened snack offerings.
•
•
•
SOURCE: Cancer.org
SOURCE: Cancer.org
Understanding the Risk of Tobacco
2
34 M
U.S. adults still smoke
cigarettes, a major detriment
to overall health.
Provide access to smoking cessation programs, coaching, and therapy.
Offer health screenings at work.
•
•
How employers can help
SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Medicine
GETTING
GOOD SLEEP
3
Sleep disruptions, caused by things like shift work, are also a major concern for cancer survivors as long-term side effects from cancer treatments may contribute to poor sleep, which can make it difficult to concentrate at work.
Encourage a strong work/
life balance.
•
How employers can help
Offer generous and flexible vacation benefits.
•
The American Cancer Society designs custom partnership programs that are tailored to each organization’s unique needs and designed to keep employees happy and healthy. These programs are created to drive impact, improve employees’ health, and yield the widespread benefits generated by employee well-being.
Working Together
to Keep Employees
Healthy
With More Than 100 Years of Experience,
ACS Has Already...
Helped to achieve a
decrease in cancer mortality
from 1991–2019 avoiding
cancer-related deaths
~3.5 M
32%
Invested
in cancer research over 75 years
$5 B
Partner with ACS to design a program to help keep your employees happy and healthy.
To learn more, visit cancer.org/becomeapartner
The Importance of a Healthy Workforce
