Cancer research is a major part of pharmaceutical company AbbVie’s work. The company’s research on blood cancer, for example, led to discoveries such as a non-chemotherapy treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2019.
More recently, AbbVie has started to focus on supporting employees of its own who are dealing with cancer, Lesli Marasco, its VP of global benefits and well-being, told HR Brew. In addition to serving as a primary sponsor of the Working With Cancer pledge, AbbVie has used focus groups to learn more about what these employees need from their employer, she said.
“We’re focused on discovering treatments to…treat cancer,” she said. “To be able to extend that to employees, I think is really incredible.”
Supporting a range of employees. AbbVie organized focus groups earlier this year to better understand the needs of these employees, Marasco said. Coming out of the focus groups, her team realized employees needed resources to help them better navigate the benefits already in place at the company. They’re currently designing a cancer-specific guide that will outline resources and programs available to employees and their families, Marasco said.
“We’re working to make sure it’s really easy for people to access, and remember the resources that they have available to them,” Marasco said. The guide will also address best practices for HR leaders and managers when navigating conversations with employees affected by cancer, keeping in mind that not all workers’ needs are the same.
AbbVie has also started offering healthcare advocacy to all its US employees to help them “navigate the complexities of the healthcare system,” Marasco said in a follow-up email. Through this benefit, employees can work with an advocate (often a registered nurse) to ask questions about medical bills, insurance coverage, or find a new in-network provider.
Quick-to-read HR news & insights
From recruiting and retention to company culture and the latest in HR tech, HR Brew delivers up-to-date industry news and tips to help HR pros stay nimble in today’s fast-changing business environment.
In addition to taking steps to make it easier for employees to access cancer-specific resources, Marasco’s team has leaned into providing flexibility and caregiver support.
Typically, employees at AbbVie, which is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois, come into the office three days a week, though Marasco said workers “can flex their hours as long as they’re able to meet business needs.” The company also started offering four weeks of paid caregiver leave in 2022, so employees can care for family members with serious health conditions.
The pledge. AbbVie’s focus is part of a broader corporate effort called Working With Cancer, a campaign launched in January that seeks to “abolish the stigma and insecurity that exist for people with cancer in the workplace.” Bank of America, Walmart, and Microsoft are also founding partners, alongside AbbVie.
Recognizing that one-half of people with cancer are afraid to tell their employers, according to one estimate, the campaign calls on companies to create a conversation around cancer in the workplace, make employees aware of their commitment, and track their progress.
About 45% of people diagnosed with cancer in the US are working-age (20 to 64 years), and a diagnosis can lead employees to work fewer hours, resulting in lost wages or job loss, according to a 2020 research paper published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Workplace adaptations often overseen by HR departments, such as flexibility and return-to-work-planning, may help mitigate the negative effects of cancer diagnoses on employment.
Marasco, who is a cancer survivor herself and has been a caregiver for two parents with the disease, said she hopes the campaign will encourage companies to “continue to reduce the stigma about talking about cancer in the workplace, and to continue to support people across their full journey.”