Good health is one of the most valuable things in life. When
For Lyft's head of benefits Tanner Brunsdale, his own experience being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in his early 20s opened his eyes to the challenges of
"Even though I was working in benefits, I felt very lost — I don't even think I had a primary care physician," Brunsdale says. "Without the support of my boss and the benefits [of my job], I wouldn't have had any idea what to do. That experience gave me the desire to pursue a career in benefits because I wanted to be that person that people turn to when they're in these kinds of situations."
Read more about Brunsdale's career journey, and why putting people first is always his top priority:
Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is challenging enough — but for Lesli Marasco, going through treatment with the additional burden of caring for her two parents who also had cancer, as well as her growing family, could have been a career-ender. Instead, the vice president of global benefits and well-being at AbbVie won her battle with breast cancer and supported her family without needing to put her career on hold. Today, she guides other employees though their healthcare needs with the right navigation and support.
"When I got my diagnosis, it was hard to know are these the best treatment options for me?" Marasco says. "[At AbbVie], we're spending a lot of time ensuring our programs are easy to find and understandable. By reducing the stigma and making sure that people have the support they need, we're helping people come through a diagnosis and still contribute at work."
Marasco shares the benefits that helped her navigate challenging times, and how she's helping employees today:
For employees in need of prescription medications, rising costs can get in the way of vital care. Nonprofit research company 46 Brooklyn found that pharmaceutical companies are raising prices for over 700 medications in January alone, with the average increase sitting at about 4.5%. Popular
"Having programs in place and people to help navigate the system and make the most appropriate choice is very important," says Mark Campbell, SVP of clinical solutions at RxBenefits, a pharmacy benefits administrator that works with PBMs to get discounts on prescription drugs. "You need to add a human component to a system-driven process."
Campbell shares how employers can ensure their employees have the tools to find the right medication for their condition at the best price:
Mental health is just as important as physical wellness, and the way employers and employees speak to each other can do a number on team morale and goodwill in the workplace. Eighty-seven percent of employees said that, when stressed, they have used language they shouldn't have, according to a recent survey from online language platform Preply. Phrases like "I don't care," "Not my job" and "This is a waste of time" are commonly used, but can do damage if not properly addressed.
"Even if you do so by accident, using some of these phrases is stressful for other people," says Sylvia Johnson, head of methodology at Preply. "There is nothing wrong with admitting that you might be slightly overwhelmed; it's how you deal with it that is so important. If you can recognize that [another's] behavior is being triggered by stress, then you can be more empathetic about it."
Johnson offers these tips for fostering positive workplace communication and not letting stress get the best of us:
