How providing the right benefits and accommodations to your workforce can help people living with diabetes individually and help your business.
People with diabetes or prediabetes are just like anyone else. They have skills, strengths, and unique capabilities that bring value to communities, society, and the economy.
In that same vein, employees with diabetes or prediabetes can bring valuable contributions to the workplace. To help maximize health and productivity, employers can offer benefits and reasonable accommodations to support their health and productivity. Here's why benefits and accommodations are essential and what you can do as an employer or plan.
Enhanced productivity: When employee health needs are met, they can perform at their best. Supporting diabetes management can lead to improved focus and energy levels, resulting in increased productivity.
Healthier workforce: Encouraging a healthy lifestyle, which includes proper diabetes management, contributes to a healthier overall workforce. This can lead to reduced absenteeism and lower healthcare costs for both employees and employers.
Employee loyalty: Providing accommodations and support for employees with diabetes or prediabetes can foster a sense of loyalty and commitment. Employees are more likely to stay with employers who show care and understanding about their health needs.
Offering better benefits and accommodations will not only enhance productivity, foster a healthier workforce, and increase employee loyalty. Here are some key benefits and accommodations to consider.
A better diabetes management solution: Diabetes can be difficult and time-consuming, both externally and internally. Providing a diabetes management solution as part of your employee benefits can decrease the stress and cost burdens that can hold people back from achieving diabetes health needs and goals. A solution should cut costs for your company and remove costs for members, provide the tools necessary for monitoring and managing blood sugar, and include individualized care and clinical support.
Flexible scheduling: Offering flexible work hours can accommodate medical appointments, blood sugar monitoring, and meal schedules.
Break times: Allowing short breaks for blood sugar checks, administering insulin or medications, or snack consumption can be vital.
Private area access: Providing a private area for diabetes-related tasks is essential. Employees need discrete spaces for blood sugar checks and insulin administration, ensuring privacy and comfort.
Accommodation for meals and snacks: Treatment for all types of diabetes include food management. When blood sugar is high, food choices matter. When blood sugar is low, access to glucose is critical. For many, mealtimes are planned and consistency is essential. Employers can support employees with diabetes or prediabetes by allowing them to keep food nearby and accessible, helping them manage their blood sugar levels effectively.
Education: One of the big deterrents from improving health comes down to education. When people learn more about a health condition that they live with they become better prepared and equipped to manage that condition. Adding benefits that provide health education, particularly from clinical experts who can personalize education and care, can go a long way toward better population health.
Workplace wellness initiatives: Employers can implement far-reaching wellness programs that benefit all employees. These programs can promote healthy lifestyles and overall well-being. But, providing benefits to help employees living with specific health conditions, including those with diabetes or prediabetes, is very important in achieving a stronger workforce.
An empathetic work environment: Maintaining a flexible and empathetic work environment reduces stress and contributes to the overall satisfaction of employees managing diabetes or prediabetes.
By recognizing the benefits of supporting employees with diabetes or prediabetes and implementing reasonable accommodations, employers can create a more inclusive and health-conscious workplace that benefits both employees and the organization as a whole.
Find out how switching to Diathrive Health for your diabetes management solution can help your organization.