Three-quarters of respondents do not have a formal policy in place for managing cancer among employees, according to research by independent financial adviser Helm Godfrey.
Its research, Cancer in the workplace: its impact and how companies manage it, also found that 41% of respondents said dealing with cancer in the workplace is quite challenging.
More than a quarter (28%) said cancer screening, where available as an employee benefit, had not reduced private medical insurance (PMI) costs. One-fifth (22%) said they would not consider contributing towards the cost of cancer screening for employees.
John Deacon, director and head of employee benefits at Helm Godfrey, said: “Our research has found a surprising lack of enthusiasm among employers to consider offering cancer screening and a general level of unpreparedness in the workplace for dealing with what is one of the UK’s biggest killers.
“In the current economic climate, with budgets under considerable strain, I can understand that some businesses may be unwillingness to spend money on non-core services.
“But cancer screening can be offered very cost-effectively, particularly if the expense is shared between employee and employer. It would also be money well spent in terms of contributing to the health and wellbeing of workforces.”
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