Support your team through Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a chance for employers to show they truly value their people. Beyond productivity, the most powerful message you can send is that health and well-being come first.
For many employees, the way their workplace responds to breast cancer, whether through awareness, prevention, or support, can make all the difference.
Why it matters
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with nearly 57,000 new cases every year. That means it’s highly likely someone in your workforce will be affected, directly or indirectly. When employers take steps to raise awareness and make screening easier to access, outcomes improve, and so does employee loyalty, trust, and engagement.
Top tips for employers this October:
1. Share simple awareness messages
Use internal channels - from intranet posts to digital signage - to share reminders about breast health, the importance of regular self-checks, and where employees can find reliable information. Personal stories (shared with permission) can be especially powerful.
2. Make space for health checks
Time and cost can be barriers to attending a mammogram. Offering flexible time off for screenings or signposting employees to workplace or partner health benefits shows you mean it when you say your employees’ wellbeing matters.
3. Create learning opportunities
Host a short webinar or lunch-and-learn session on breast health, delivered by a healthcare professional. Interactive education helps employees feel informed and empowered to take action.
4. Show empathy and flexibility
If an employee is going through diagnosis or treatment, simple adjustments like flexible hours, remote work options, or reduced workloads can make work manageable during a difficult time. Training managers to have sensitive, supportive conversations is key.
5. Highlight the support available
Remind employees about your wellbeing resources, whether that’s counselling, EAP services, or cancer-specific benefits. Employers who partner with specialist providers, such as Check4Cancer, can give staff fast access to expert advice about cancer concerns, reducing anxiety and delays.
Take action this Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Raising awareness in October is more than a campaign; it’s a chance to build a culture of care. Small steps like sharing resources, encouraging screenings, and showing compassion when it’s needed most help employees feel valued, protected, and supported.
Because when it comes to breast cancer, it’s always better to know. Early detection saves lives and a supportive workplace helps make it possible.
Supplied by REBA Associate Member, Check4Cancer
Check4Cancer offers corporate health screening for different types of cancer.
