About 6.3 percent of full-time workers have diabetes, which results in an extra 5.5 days of missed work per person per year. That’s a lot of people – and a lot of missed time!
While this undoubtedly has a huge effect on the employee more than anyone, it impacts employers as well. Not just a little, either.
In fact, the amount of collective missed days due to diabetes amounted to costs of about $20 billion a year. Considering new cases of Type 2 diabetes is rising, this could be even costlier very soon.
Fortunately, there is a mutually beneficial solution that can aid both employees with diabetes and their employers.
Diabetes Challenges in the Workplace
People with diabetes spend a lot of time and energy managing their condition. Plus, traditional methods of diabetes management are not only invasive, but they’re time-consuming and inconvenient.
Considering diabetes management is a round-the-clock job, this can affect employees on an emotional level, physical level, and work level.
One thing that can be said, however, is that employers are starting to become unlikely heroes in helping their employees have access to more effective diabetes management tools through the healthcare benefits they offer.
How Employers Can Assist
As the war for talent thickens, employers are looking for new, innovative, and inclusive ways to attract and retain top talent.
Two areas that get a lot of attention in doing so, are benefits and flexibility. An attractive healthcare benefits plan is a super-attractor of top-tier candidates –– some of which have diabetes.
If you’re looking to attract and retain top talent, one way to do that is to begin offering favorable diabetes management benefits for your employees.
Diabetes management companies, like Pops, are partnering with employers to offer simpler, more convenient, and less invasive ways to manage their diabetes. Not only to provide better solutions but to build stronger relationships between employees with diabetes and their employers.
Why This Benefits Employers
Diabetes management is a burden on the people who deal with it – but you, an employer can help!
Any effort an employer makes to lift that burden empowers employees and fuels the advocacy of their organization. Naturally, this can have profound effects on organizational culture.
Additionally, getting involved in helping your employees better manage their diabetes means a decrease in absenteeism that we already know is very costly (and continues to be more so).
Key Takeaways
- Diabetes affects a myriad of employees across the country – yes, at work, too!
- Employers can help show their appreciation and inclusion by teaming up with simple, modern, diabetes management solutions – like Pops!
- Not only will this strengthen the relationship between employees and employers, but it can yield a favorable ROI due to employee loyalty, employee advocacy, and a decrease in absenteeism.
- The result is healthier employees, reduced healthcare costs, and improved diabetes management.
Authored by Pops Diabetes Care
This is a sponsored article