Employers have a unique opportunity to save lives by making breast cancer screening more accessible to their employees. The initiative Employers Think Pink, created by the law firm Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., calls on businesses throughout New Jersey and across the country to provide paid time off for the hours required to receive an annual mammogram. The program is built on the simple but powerful idea that no one should have to choose between a paycheck and a potentially lifesaving screening.
The mission is deeply personal for the firm. The initiative was created after longtime case manager Annette was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer in 2009. With a busy schedule, Annette had delayed her annual mammogram for several months. She eventually found a lump while taking a shower and made an appointment with her doctor. If she had kept her original mammogram appointment, her cancer may have been detected at Stage 1 instead of developing into Stage 2B. After surgery and chemotherapy, Annette was declared cancer-free, but her experience left the firm with a lasting belief: employees should be able to make room for preventive care, including a mammogram, without worrying that it could cost them a day's pay.
Garry R. Salomon, Esq., Founding Partner of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., emphasized the stakes. "There is nothing more important than saving lives. Paid time off for breast cancer screening is a perk every caring employer can do to protect their staff and their families from this horrible disease," he said.
The importance of mammograms and early breast cancer screening cannot be overstated. According to the American Cancer Society, about 321,910 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026, and 42,140 women will die from the disease. Mammograms can often find breast cancer before symptoms develop, and cancers found earlier are more likely to be treated successfully. By removing a significant barrier to screening, Employers Think Pink aims to increase early detection rates and ultimately save lives.
Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to join Employers Think Pink and provide employees with paid time off for the hours necessary for mammogram appointments. The process is straightforward: companies can add their name as an employer that thinks pink at www.employersthinkpink.com. Employers can also scan the initiative's QR code to learn more, watch the campaign's introduction video, and join. Encouraging friends and family members' employers to participate amplifies the impact. The larger the number of employers thinking pink, the more lives will be saved. Together, companies can prove to their employees that taking care of their health should never have to compete with their job.
The implications of this initiative extend beyond individual workplaces. By normalizing paid time off for preventive care, Employers Think Pink sets a precedent that could influence broader corporate policies and even public health discussions. It highlights the role employers can play in public health outcomes, particularly in a country where access to preventative services remains uneven. For businesses, participation can also serve as a signal of corporate social responsibility, potentially improving employee morale and loyalty. As breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer deaths among women, initiatives like this offer a concrete way for companies to contribute to a reduction in mortality through early detection.
