Employers have a unique opportunity to save lives by making breast cancer screening more accessible. The initiative Employers Think Pink, 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. This simple yet meaningful idea addresses a critical barrier to preventive care: the fear of losing income or falling behind at work.
The program was born from a personal experience. Annette, a longtime case manager at the firm, 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 showering and made an appointment with her doctor. Had she 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. By removing the obstacle of unpaid time off, employers can directly contribute to better outcomes for their employees.
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 the initiative and provide employees with paid time off for the hours necessary for mammogram appointments. It's simple: Just add your company name as an employer that thinks pink at www.employersthinkpink.com. The campaign also offers a QR code to learn more, watch an introduction video, and join the initiative. Encouraging friends and families' employers to Think Pink can amplify the impact—the larger the number of employers thinking pink, the more lives will be saved.
This initiative matters because it shifts workplace culture to prioritize health. When employers offer paid time off for mammograms, they send a clear message that employee well-being is paramount. It reduces the likelihood of late-stage diagnoses, which are more expensive to treat and more deadly. Ultimately, Employers Think Pink demonstrates that a small policy change can have a profound impact on public health, proving that taking care of one's health should never have to compete with one's job. Together, companies can prove that they value their employees' lives beyond the bottom line.
