Cancer in the Workplace - practicalities for employers and employees UICC – Montreal 2012 Jutta Olgoed Sociologist, project manager at the Danish Cancer Society
The main findings of an ECL Survey • A need for special considerations at the work • A need for special considerations at the work place when returning to work • diseases can vary in duration – and that the A need for employers to know that cancer impact may last longer than 1 year •
Cancer Patients and Employment Cancer Patients and 3.2 3.2 mio mio . Europeans are diagnosed with cancer every year 1.3 mio . are of working age, i.e. between 15 and 64 years
work work from 30 to 93 % return rate for employed cancer patients ranges Important risk factors for losing one’s job are • • Diagnosis • Age • Work accommodation • Level of social compensation Co-morbidity from University of Amsterdam, Holland 2012 Source:Tamminga SJ, Enhancing return to work Thesis from University of Amsterdam, Holland 2012
A case A woman A woman of 29 who worked at a bank was on sick months after her treatment for uterus cancer. She was leave for 6 to lose her job and very anxious to get back on afraid soon full time as as possible . But But she suffered from late effects – tiredness confidence and moods. She was close , loss of the company offered her a return-to-work to a depression when plan. It included a gradual return to normal hours and an adjustment of her tasks with no direct contact to the customers. Within 4 months she was back on full time and after another 2 months she picked up her former tasks.
Work with the employers ! Not knowing what to do is a core problem. And this is where cancer leagues can really help – especially the many smaller companies who don’t have a big HR staff to help them deal with the difficult situations
Three Three issues are useful for employers 2. Suggestions for 2. Suggestions for concrete 3. A formal policy as guidance actions
Knowledge is vital is vital • It can reduce insecurity and fear • • It prevent unrealistic expectations It can improve the help the given to employees returning to work • It can minimize prejudice about cancer cancer
Suggestions for Suggestions for concrete actions An An early meeting is - a possibility to show concerned mandatory - to exchange information about the interest about the company policy for serious treatment and ilness, and - to agree upon the type and frequency of during treatment and contact recovery - to agree upon what information should to the be given
Suggestions for concrete actions Important during Important during treatment and recovery - Advice about how to handle the contact with sick employee - Work through the disease? possibilities for working part time Discuss wishes and or from home - Offer information about possible types of help offered by social authorities subsidies or or employment services - Advice about paying close attention to the group of
Suggestions for concrete Suggestions for A meeting A meeting before the employee’s return is mandatory - exchange information about the health including side effects and possible late effects status - discuss mutual expectations - discuss the possibilities to return gradual basis - discuss possible adjustments of working hours and work
A FORMAL POLICY A formal company policy has substantial • Considered and carefully prepared actions are advantages more beneficial for both management and the usually employee • It minimizes the about what to do in a insecurity of the manager / line manager difficult situation • It minimizes the insecurity of the sick employee – as as of all the other well employees • A policy is a clear signal of social
Free tools are Check Check different websites for usefull advice on this topic Macmillan in UK has developed a tool ’Working Through Through Cancer’ for employers , The Danish Cancer Society has published a handbook for employers, ’When an Employee Develops it’s been tranlated into English and French and these Cancer’, versions can be found on ECL’s website
Working Working on a national Important stakeholders are : • • Ministries of Health – Employment - Social Affairs Cancer Leagues • • Employers The Trade Unions • ’ Associations • Pension Funds leading’ ’
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