It’s a perfect storm. Employees are stressed out and exhausted, but they’re not pursuing preventive care. According to a new study, workers are putting off key preventive interventions:
- Colonoscopies are down 88%
- Mammograms are down 76%
- Pap Smears are down 77%
The good news is that these declines have started to reverse, but numbers haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.
To address this issue, employers should consider prioritizing employee education about the value of these interventions. In doing so, focus on the full range of benefits and not focus solely on cost. Make it part of a campaign that includes educational videos and posters, guest speakers, and social media posts. Ask employees to share their stories about why they pursued such preventive measures. Reward them with gift cards, time off, or other incentives.