Even if we do the prevention and earlier diagnosis roles as an employer, unfortunately we will sometimes face situations where a member of our workforce has cancer or is caring for someone with cancer.
Workforce Support
We have a vital role to play to help our team.
Support & understanding
Work is important for many people with cancer or caring for someone with cancer, for lots of reasons. Going to work can give a sense of normality to their life. It can also help with recovery. (Source of introduction: Macmillan at Work)
Managers and employers play an important role in supporting people with cancer and their carers.
If a person has or has had cancer, they are protected by law from unfair treatment at work for the rest of their life. Under equality laws, managers and employers should try to support employees. This includes making reasonable adjustments to help them stay in or return to work when they are ready and able.
When exploring making reasonable adjustments to the workplace or working pattern, your employee should be fully consulted and involved in the process.
Some simple first steps to support your employee could be to:
- Talk to your employee to understand their needs
- Provide training for managers
- Check your policies are up to date
- Educate employees
- Raise awareness of cancer.
Employers in action
Employer: Pricecheck
Initiative: Partnership with Weston Park Cancer Charity
Pricecheck, a Sheffield-based international wholesaler and distributor, chose to ‘Show Up’ against cancer by partnering with Weston Park Cancer Charity. This case study explains how the partnership benefited the charity and employees alike.
Read More
The partnership between Pricecheck and Weston Park Cancer Charity demonstrates the powerful impact that businesses can make when they support local causes.
Pricecheck’s enthusiastic fundraising efforts will go towards treatment enhancements, patient support services, and innovative research trials, directly benefitting people living with cancer across the region.
The partnership has also promoted greater awareness of Weston Park Cancer Charity’s services within the Pricecheck team. Meaning employees now know where to turn to for cancer support and advice, should they ever need it.
Crucially, the experience of fundraising has brought the Pricecheck team closer together, strengthening relationships across the business and reinforcing the company’s commitment to corporate responsibility.
Further Free Resources
WorkWell
Whether you’re a large employer or a small business in South Yorkshire – WorkWell is here to support your workforce with a health condition or disability who wants to improve their work situation.
WorkWell is delivered by South Yorkshire Housing Association in partnership with SYMCA, SY ICB, local authorities and other partner organisations. It provides bespoke one to one coaching, free advice, signposting, resources and support to your employees to help them to stay well at work.
Managing Cancer in the Workplace
Created by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Comprehensive guide covering
- Getting started
- How cancer affects people
- Talking about cancer
- Supporting your employee at work
- Helping your employee come back to work
- Bereavement
- Financial support for employees
- Legal rights
- Further information
Advice for working people affected by cancer.
Created by Macmillan Cancer Support
Get Advice on
- How will cancer affect my work life?
- How will cancer affect me if I am self-employed?
- What are my rights at work?
- Do I have to tell my employer I have cancer?
- What kind of support can I have from my employer?
- How do I make decisions about work if I have cancer?
- Will I need time off work?
- Am I entitled to sick pay if I have cancer?
- What benefits could I be entitled to?
- How will cancer affect my feelings about work?
Buddying guidelines
Created by Macmillan Cancer Support
Guidelines developed with employers and people affected by cancer to help organisations implement a buddying system in the workplace.
Cancer policy template
Created by Macmillan Cancer Support
A template to help HR teams develop a company policy for handling cancer in the workplace.
Self-employment and cancer
Created by Macmillan Cancer Support
Information about coping with cancer while you are self-employed or running a small business. Includes information about how treatment might affect your work, making decisions about your business, talking to clients or customers and getting support with your business or personal finances.
Working while caring for someone with cancer
Created by Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is about working while caring for someone with cancer. You are a carer if you give any unpaid help and support to someone with cancer who could not manage without your help. You do not have to be living with the person you care for.
The resource covers
• getting support at work
• flexible working
• your rights at work
• talking about cancer with your employer and the people you work with.
Supporting your team with cancer
Created by Bupa
An informative brochure offering advice on how employers can help their employees who are working with cancer, covering topics such as:
The resource covers
- What help staff are entitled to
- What staff might need help with
- Tips for approaching conversations about cancer
- How to prepare for a staff member who’s returning to work
How should employers support staff with cancer?
Created by Reality HR
A bank of information offering guidance on how to help support employees at work, or to return when they are ready.
How to support employees with cancer:
The resource covers
- Understand their needs
- Be flexible & make reasonable adjustments
- Provide training for managers
- Check your policies
Supporting an employee with cancer
Created by Optima Health
Examples of how employees may be affected during a diagnosis / through treatment and advice on how you can support them, including:
The resource covers
- Understanding the different impacts on employees (psychological, physical, financial)
- Supporting an employee with cancer
- Supporting a return to work
External Services
We have included links to reputable organisations only, however links do not mean that this is an endorsement of services or an intentional exclusion of other services.
Cancer Research UK offer a bespoke programme of support as well as webinars, in person workshops, and an interactive awareness stand. Charges apply and are listed on the website.
Cancer Research UK offer a bespoke programme of support as well as webinars, in person workshops, and an interactive awareness stand. Charges apply and are listed on the website.
Cancer Research UK offer a bespoke programme of support as well as webinars, in person workshops, and an interactive awareness stand. Charges apply and are listed on the website.