Corporate Viewpoint:Effects of support for balancing work and treatment in small and medium-sized companies

Abstract

Continuous development of corporate business requires pleasant working conditions, assured challenges,and maintaining the physical and mental health of employees.Resignation of employees with cancer could reduce technical capabilities and shake the business foundation.We often hear that many corporate managers of SMEs prioritize sales and profits and are unwilling to spend energy and cost on support for work and treatment balance. We will share the case of our company concerning the method and effects of work-life balance support of SMEs. Human Resource Center (HRC),established in 2013,is an independent organization providing one-stop support according to the life stages of employees,from joining the company to retiring. Consultation on cancer treatment,etc.,is resolved working with contract industrial physicians and industrial health nurses. HRC's efforts to support work and treatment balance (examples) Support at each stage: 1.Prevention (cancer screening,site inspection by industrial physician) 2.Treatment period (publication of cancer fight diary in company newsletter, participation of industrial physician in meeting with primary physician) 3. After return to work (work-at-home system),etc. Maturation of the sense of security: Group long-term disablity income indemnity insurance, defined contribution pension,etc. In SMEs, the priority will be establishing a system to balance cancer treatment and work and enhance the sense of security to increase employee retention, rather than complaining of labor shortages. In the case of internal resource shortages, knowledge of external experts needs to be borrowed to compensate for correct information and knowhow. With one consultation window, data and knowhow will be centralized, further enhancing the quality and response capacity of work-treatment balance support. Establishing a work-treatment balance system will enhance corporate values inexpressible in figures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]