Access to preventive care should not be postponed because of work obligations, yet many employees delay annual mammograms due to job demands. Employers Think Pink, an initiative created by Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., calls on businesses throughout New Jersey and across the country to provide employees with paid time off for the hours required to receive their annual mammograms. The program is built on a simple but meaningful idea: no one should have to choose between a paycheck and a potentially lifesaving screening.
The initiative was born from a personal experience at the firm. Annette, a longtime case manager, was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer in 2009 after delaying her annual mammogram for several months due to a busy schedule. She eventually found a lump while taking a shower and made an appointment with her doctor. If Annette had kept her original mammogram appointment, her cancer may have been detected at Stage 1 instead of developing into Stage 2B. After surgery and chemotherapy, Annette was declared cancer-free, but her experience left the firm with a lasting belief: no one should choose between protecting their health and losing income.
"There is nothing more important than saving lives. Paid time off for breast cancer screening is a perk every caring employer can do to protect their staff and their families from this horrible disease," said Garry R. Salomon, Esq., Founding Partner of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C.
The importance of mammograms and early breast cancer screening cannot be overstated. Early detection saves lives. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 321,910 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026 and 42,140 women will die from the disease. Mammograms can often find breast cancer before symptoms develop, and cancers found earlier are more likely to be treated successfully.
Employers Think Pink gives companies a straightforward way to support early detection by making room for mammograms during the workday. Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to join and provide employees with paid time off for the hours necessary for mammogram appointments. The process is simple: employers can add their company name as an employer that thinks pink at www.employersthinkpink.com.
For readers, the implications are direct. Employees who currently delay screenings because of work may soon find it easier to schedule them without losing pay, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and better outcomes. For industry, the initiative sets a voluntary standard that could pressure more employers to adopt similar policies, especially as breast cancer incidence remains high. For the world, the message is clear: workplace policies can be designed to prioritize health. The larger the number of employers thinking pink, the more lives will be saved. Together, companies can prove to their employees that taking care of their health should never have to compete with their job.
