Worksite Cancer Screening Boosts Employee Morale

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla-Worksite cancer screening programs are designedto help reduce cancer morbidity and mortality among employees,but have the added benefit of enhancing the employer's corporateimage and boosting employee morale.

"Cancer screening and education programs enhance a company'sreputation as a leader in employee health initiatives," saidRobert C. Black, president of Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, at the secondannual conference of the Industries' Coalition Against Cancer(ICAC).

Mr. Black noted that the worksite screening program at Zenecahas been applauded both within the company and within the communitywhere it operates, and receives frequent media attention, especiallythe breast cancer program, which has found eight cases of breastcancer in just 5 years.

Zeneca is viewed as a leader in helping large and small companiesand organizations develop and implement breast cancer screeningprograms, he said, due to its sponsorship of two Public BroadcastingSystem video conferences on worksite screening, as well as ICAC.

He said that the screening programs have helped improve employeemorale company wide. "Those who participate in our cancerscreening program have become its most effective promoters,"he said. "They truly become ambassadors for the company,both within its walls and within the local community."

Furthermore, when cancers are found, he said, Zeneca employeesrally around their coworkers with cancer by working extra hoursto give them time off, giving up vacation time to take over assignments,and providing a support system with hospital and home visits.In short, he said, "our employees do all the things thatmembers of a family, in this case a corporate family, do for eachother."