October is breast cancer awareness month and we’ve all already been inundated with how to donate, make a difference, or raise awareness. But one thing’s missing.
In our busy, work-oriented lives, what can we do to get involved in breast cancer awareness month in the workplace? If you get creative, there are ways for employers to make a difference in this cause and raise awareness in the workplace.
But before you move ahead, ask yourself this question: Have any of your employees or family members of your employees been touched by breast cancer? If the answer is yes, your strategy and purpose just became more important.
Women have about a 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during their life. Fortunately, compared to other cases of cancer, this number is quite low.
So in honor of those that have lost their lives or are still fighting breast cancer, this month can be used to make a difference. And as an employer, you have the opportunity to set an example for your employees by getting involved in breast cancer awareness. So what can you do?
Register your team or sponsor other teams for Relay for Life, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, or other breast cancer awareness walks. This might be the most obvious idea, but it’s a fun and healthy way to get your employees involved. You can train together, raise money as a team, and walk (or run) together for a cure. But it doesn’t have to just be about the walk — you can hold meetings in the workplace to discuss fundraising strategies, important statistics to share, and who you’d like to recruit.
Have your own breast cancer awareness day in the office. Wear pink, buy products that donate proceeds to the cause (Yoplait, for example), and put out a donation jar. Invite your employees to share their personal stories or create a memory wall in the office of loved ones impacted by breast cancer.
Consider an educational fair. This one really depends on the women in the office. But if they’re interested, offer educational brochures, information on mammograms, or even have a representative from your local hospital or Susan G. Komen branch or affiliate come by to talk about breast cancer prevention or other ways to get involved. You could always throw in the festivities of food and music too. Work with HR to send out reminder emails on getting mammograms and other preventative information.
Although breast cancer awareness can be a sensitive topic for some, it’s important to get your employees involved in a cause. Generating awareness is important and can increase employee engagement in the workplace.
So have fun this month and wear pink!
How has your office become involved in breast cancer awareness or other awareness causes?
