October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Women in Print Alliance is dialing up the Pantone wheel from the traditional pastel pink color symbolizing breast cancer awareness to a bold “M” – aka Magenta!

On October 18, we encourage Women in Print Alliance Members and ALL women in print to wear magenta to increase awareness of breast cancer prevention, memorialize those women we’ve lost to the disease, champion survivors, and to support colleagues who may be in the midst of their own breast cancer battles.

One in every 8 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Since 2015, the breast cancer rate for women ages 40-49 has risen 2 percent every year. Given the prevalence of the disease, it’s likely you will work (or are currently working) alongside a woman facing this health challenge at some point in your career. And given that women are 47 percent of the workforce, breast cancer is undeniably a health concern for all employers.

Below are resources to help both employers and employees manage this major work-life health care situation.

For Employees – Navigating Breast Cancer Treatment at Work: This excellent article published by the Mayo Clinic starts with the premise that choosing to work (or not) while undergoing breast cancer treatment is a highly individual choice driven by treatment plans, emotional conditions, and financial considerations. A practical guide, it provides tactics on:

  • Notifying and making a plan with your employer.
  • Telling co-workers (or maintaining your privacy) & accepting help.
  • Staying adaptable during your work-life health challenge.

The article also touches on health insurance basics, knowing your workplace protection rights, and communicating changing work-life needs with your employer throughout your breast cancer journey.

For Employers – Providing Breast Cancer Resources & Support: Employers are in a unique position to raise awareness of breast cancer amongst their workforce, while at the same time complying with mammogram screening health insurance mandates and HR issues related to workers undergoing cancer treatment – all in a compassionate, transparent manner. To accomplish both objectives, employers can:

  • Utilize turnkey programs designed specifically for companies, like this one offered by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which focus on wellness (early detection), patient and survivor care for employees, and info regarding general workplace accommodations for employee/patients.
  • Be transparent about company-provided health insurance. While screening mammograms are no-cost to insured women meeting age guidelines, diagnostic mammograms do incur co-pays. Employers can do their part to ensure female workers are well-informed about insurance coverage policies related to breast health. If your company does not provide insurance, use resources like this one by GoodRx to help the women you employ find affordable diagnostic options.
  • Encourage company-wide awareness activities throughout the month of October. Select an activity that fits the size, ethos, and budget of your company, such as these suggested by HireRight and Mindspace.

It’s also important that employers recognize that male breast cancer, while rare and striking only one percent of men, can and does occur.

Finally, the printing industry as a whole – in particular the print & promo segment – is in a unique position to amplify the breast cancer awareness message wide and far.

But be sure your company (and its customers) are not committing a “pinkwashing” foul (like slapping a pink bow graphic on an alcoholic package). This “Think Before You Pink” kit is a useful tool to ensure print cause-marketing products hit the target of raising breast cancer awareness in an authentic, responsible way.