 |
|
For immediate release Tuesday, June 12, 2007 Contact: Michael Nolan, 415-282-9043 or mikeyno@earthlink.net
Pioneering “Managing Through Cancer” Program wins Annual Conference Board Award NEW YORK (June 12) – The Conference Board presented their 2007 Moving into the Future Award today to the “Managing Through Cancer” initiative of New York-based Cancer and Careers and the Rupert & Company consulting firm of Washington, DC. The ceremony took place at the Conference Board’s annual Work Life Conference held at the Marriott Financial Center Hotel. Managing Through Cancer Pioneers are companies that use a comprehensive approach to support their managers and HR staff in enabling employees with cancer to stay productive on the job while undergoing cancer treatment. The Pioneers adopt a set of principles such as assuring continuing employment and development and providing the flexibility needed to allow diverse treatment regimens. They also provide web-based, practical guidance to managers and HR staff on how to successfully support the employee and the team through the challenge of working while battling cancer. Managing Through Cancer Pioneers include the publishing firm Rodale, Estee Lauder and Johnson & Johnson. According to the Conference Board, “Moving into the Future Awards are presented annually to …collaborative projects and individuals for creatively addressing issues of the workforce, workplace and community in ways that yield positive impacts for multiple stakeholders. The purpose of this award is to increase awareness about these issues among the business community and provide organizations with replicable models for successfully addressing them.” “We’re honored by this special recognition. It impels us to rapidly expand our program to other companies so that employees with cancer can benefit from the workplace support the program provides,” commented Kate Sweeney, Director of Cancer and Careers (CAC), and a co-recipient of the award. Sweeney added that “Cancer takes a toll on business every year by its impact on employees, co-workers and HR staff who must manage the many issues that result.” She described the significance of the problem nationally:
Cancer and Careers is a program of the Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation, charitable arm of New York-based CEW which represents 4,000 executives in the beauty and cosmetics industry. CAC identified the need for greater company and manager support through its own employee-oriented cancerandcareers.org website. It partnered with the flexibility consulting firm of Rupert & Company to help research the issue and develop the principle-based strategy that became the Managing Through Cancer program. Paul Rupert’s research revealed a major gap between what employees needed and what employers offered. Most employees want job security, the ability to continue working, and significant scheduling flexibility to enable treatment. Most companies offer leaves of absence, uneven case-by-case decisions and Employee Assistance Program referral. Managing Through Cancer was designed to help close this gap. In accepting the Conference Board Award, Rupert reminded the work-life trailblazers in the audience that “15 years ago, companies did not see a role for themselves in supporting employees with families. Now they offer a range of supports to help retain talented staff and improve productivity. Supporting employees with cancer is the next work-life frontier.”
* * *
|
 |
 |
