Nearly one in five (19%) respondents with cancer said their employer could do more to understand their healthcare needs and circumstances, according to research by Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and insurer Unum.
The research, which surveyed 1,016 adults who currently have or have had cancer, found that 19% were also dissatisfied with the frequency of communication and lack of support from their employer following treatment.
The research also found:
- 28% of respondents said work is important to their sense of identity.
- 26% of respondents think less about their treatment when they are working.
Joy Reymond (pictured), head of rehabilitation services at Unum, said: “Every person deals with cancer in a different way and employers often worry about saying or doing the wrong thing.
“Effective communication can help them to understand the needs of staff with cancer, and put in place a tailored and flexible return-to-work plan to provide the right support and retain talented employees.”