OCO Paid Leave Policy Supports Employee Health
Workers given paid leave for cancer screeningsAs one of Oswego County’s largest employers, leaders at Oswego County Opportunities realize the importance of a healthy workforce and expressing appreciation to their employees.
With that in mind, OCO recently announced a new policy that provides its full- and part-time employees with up to four hours of paid leave annually to undergo cancer screenings.
The policy is wide ranging and may be used for any form of cancer, including but not limited to breast, prostate, cervical, skin, colon, ovarian, bladder or lung cancer.
OCO is among the first to implement a paid leave policy for cancer screening in New York state and the first nonprofit agency to do so in Oswego County.
OCO Executive Director Diane Cooper-Currier and human resources director Cindy Seeber worked closely with the coordinator of OCO’s cancer services program, Carolyn Handville, to establish and implement the policy.
"We care about our employees and their health and felt it was important to offer them paid time off to obtain life-saving cancer screenings,” Cooper-Currier noted.
“OCO’s administration is well aware of the benefits of routine cancer screenings,” said Handville. “Regular tests such as imaging, biopsies, Pap smears, prostate screenings, mammograms, blood tests, and even surgical procedures for the purpose of detecting cancers are essential to maintain good health. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in New York state. Early detection can save lives as it finds cancer when treatment is more likely to be successful and in some instances before it even develops. Evidence indicates that when individuals are given time off for cancer screenings, they are more apt to do so.”
“The new paid leave policy is really a win-win. Preventive cancer screenings reduce health care costs, improve employee health, and reduce related business expenditures. The paid leave policy is an excellent example of the care and concern that OCO’s administration and board of directors have for its employees,” added Handville.
Oswego County Business Magazine
Issue 159
December 2018/January 2019
Cover Story
- Charitable Giving Increases
- More Than $190 Million in Grants Going to Local Projects
- The Shineman Foundation Announces Final Grant Awards of 2018
- United Approach
- United it Stands
Americans have donated record amounts of money — 70 percent of all giving, compared to only 5 percent corporations contribute to charitable giving
United Way of Greater Oswego County goes way beyond soliciting funds
United Way of Central New York: Transition in Midst of Changing Environment
Features
Special Report
- Snow Outlook: Mild or Heavy?
- Pizza War in Mexico, NY
- Tim Ames: Born to Paint
- True Entrepreneur
- Building an Empire, One Business at a Time
- Train, Develop, Optimize
- Passion Play
- Pathways to Progress
- Manufacturing Support for P-TECH
- SUNY Oswego business faculty members display research expertise
- Light Work Helps Art Photographers Work
Business Updates
Profiles
Don Hilton
On The Job
On The Job
Success Stories
Oswego County OB-GYN, P.C.
My Turn
Media Monopoly. How Dangerous Can It Be?
Economic Trends
County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency Presents Annual Report
Last Page
Katie Toomey
