Managing Diabetes in the Workplace - American Society of Employers - Heather Nezich

Managing Diabetes in the Workplace

women checking blood sugar at deskDiabetes rates in the U.S. and around the world continue to rise, as are the related costs both for individuals with the condition and their employers.  Unplanned missed workdays, reduced productivity, plus the stress and fatigue associated with uncontrolled diabetes not only add up to billions of dollars per year but can also take a toll on morale. Roche Diabetes Care recently commissioned a survey of 200+ benefits decision-makers to learn their perceptions of the individual and economic burden of diabetes and potential solutions.  The survey revealed employer concern about the impact of diabetes on employees with the condition, their colleagues, and the bottom line.  Survey findings include:
  • Four in five surveyed say their employees with diabetes find everyday management of their condition feels like a second full-time job, and most believe employees with diabetes keep their condition a secret. 
  • 86% believe that difficulty managing diabetes is responsible for absenteeism and nearly one in three (29%) have experienced increased costs to replace workers.
  • One third (32%) of respondents cite indirect costs of diabetes resulting from fatigue, understaffing and reduced productivity.
  • One in four (23%) say a fallout of diabetes at work is poor morale among employees who must perform work to cover absent co-workers.
Employees with diabetes need control of their blood sugar to feel well and function to the best of their ability. This can be difficult, given they are left alone with many daily therapy decisions.  One part of the solution, 90% of benefits decision-makers surveyed say, is providing employees with diabetes designated areas and time to monitor blood sugar and/or take injections during the workday.   Another part of the solution is to simplify daily management of diabetes for employees on and off the job.  Organizations should consider implementing diabetes management as part of their overall wellness plan.  Survey findings support this:
  • Half (49%) of the benefits decision-makers surveyed say helping employees to keep their blood sugar within an appropriate range has a tangible value for both the individuals’ well-being and the company’s bottom line.
  • Nine in ten (90%) said they believed their employees with diabetes would feel more empowered at work if the company provided a program to help simplify everyday diabetes.
  • 84% believe a company-sponsored program that simplified their diabetes management would contribute to increased productivity.

What you can do to help employees with diabetes:

  1. Introduce diabetes self-management programs.
    Work closely with your insurer and arrange for incentives to be given to employees with diabetes who attend diabetes self-management programs to help them manage their condition.

  2. Encourage healthy food choices and lifestyle.
    Introduce a diabetes initiative nutrition program that includes cooking classes and workshops on how to read food labels. This helps to educate employees with diabetes about the proper dietary plan for combating the disease. In addition, introduce a specially tailored wellness program which encourages diabetic employees to exercise regularly, such as walking and gym sessions.

  3. Allow blood glucose testing and insulin administering.
    You may want to provide a designated area within the workplace where diabetic employees can test their blood glucose levels and administer insulin. Also, consider offering storage for insulin supplies if work conditions prevent such supplies from being carried around.

  4. Educate employees about diabetes awareness.
    Educate diabetic employees about the risks of diabetes and ways to cope with it via a health kit which contains relevant resources employees can download. Consider sending weekly emails containing information about diabetes and prevention and include an element of fun by providing employees with an opportunity to participate in a quiz and win a prize.

At the least, employers need to provide reasonable accommodations for those employees managing diabetes in the workplace.  The American Diabetes Association has a document available to help employers that can be found here.  In addition, the EEOC has a fact sheet available about diabetes in the workplace.

 

Additional ASE Resources
Sample ADA Policy - Download a sample ADA policy - Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities: Standard Policy. 


Source: HR Dive

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