By Tracey Ward, Head of Business Development & Marketing at Generali UK Employee Benefits

Return to work support for people who’ve had cancer treatment seems very hit and miss, according to research. Yet the vast majority of people want to work; not only for financial reasons, but also for mental wellbeing reasons. So, it’s perhaps comforting for employers to hear that expert help is now at hand at no extra cost, from Vocational Rehabilitation experts, via Group Life Assurance. This is the kind of valuable support that usually only comes with Group Income Protection.

Over half of cancer patients say their medical teams or Occupational Health professionals did not discuss their return to work. And only 22% of HR departments told employees about their right to ask for reasonable adjustments and a phased return to work.*

 Meanwhile, research by Working To Wellbeing among line managers in the UK and working people who have, or have had, cancer, found that only just over one in three (36%) employees who have/had cancer were satisfied that they received reasonable adjustments to their job to manage their health.**

Staying in, or returning to, work is important to people living with cancer (87%). Although financial pressures (54%) are a motivation, the most popular reasons for returning to work are to give a sense of normality (62%) or to keep positive, keep up morale, or self-esteem (55%).

It’s for all these reasons, that Generali UK, in partnership with experts in Vocational Rehabilitation coaching Working To Wellbeing, recently launched a new cancer support service, available at no extra cost, as an add-on to our Group Life Assurance proposition. And, what’s more, it’s available to all employees of our Group Life policyholders, whether insured or not.

The service offers access to specialist cancer support, within six months of an individual’s cancer treatment ending; regardless of whether they’re already working, or are looking to return to, work.

 Features include:

  • An in-depth biopsychosocial assessment
  • Specialist support from a work/health coach, registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), experienced in cancer, work and health
  • Coaching sessions tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual, focused on health management with return to work in mind
  • A return to work plan and assistance with implementation, where appropriate
  • Employer liaison, where applicable

Dr Julie Denning, Managing Director & Chartered Health Psychologist at Working To Wellbeing, also Chair of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association, comments: “After working in partnership with Generali UK for many years, providing early intervention and rehabilitation support to the employees of their Group Income Protection clients, it’s fantastic to be able to extend an element of such support to those covered by their Group Life proposition too.

 “Our Cancer Support Service is tailored to individual need and, crucially, focuses on the whole person – the physical, cognitive, psychological and emotional components of cancer. We’re proud to say that on average 3 in 4 people we work with successfully sustain, or return to, work. The 1 in 4 that don’t are typically experiencing very challenging symptoms that would make a return to work inappropriate for them.”

 Tracey Ward, Head of Business Development and Marketing at Generali UK Employee Benefits, adds: “We’re excited to further evolve our partnership with Working To Wellbeing by extending this valuable service to many more employees via our Group Life proposition. We believe that people should receive specialist support to assist functional recovery and return to work wherever appropriate.

 “For many people, returning to work when they feel ready is a big step in their recovery, helping them get back into a routine, feel a sense of normality and feel more financially secure. Naturally though, employers and line managers feel out of their depth having such conversations with employees. Our support can prove invaluable to all concerned.”

 Sources:

*Working with cancer, Cancer patients returning to work face a mental health crisis, Feb 2022, https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/2022/02/04/cancer-patients-returning-to-work-face-a-mental-health- crisis/#:~:text=Sadly%2C%20fewer%20than%20two%2Dthirds,and%20financial%20woes%20of%20many.

 **Working To Wellbeing, Only one in three employees with cancer satisfied with workplace adjustments, Nov 2023, https://www.working2wellbeing.com/employees-with-cancer-research/

Disclaimer:

All information contained herein represents the views and opinions of the author as of the date of writing and is provided for general information only. Nothing herein constitutes or is intended to constitute financial or other form of advice and no individual should rely upon the information provided in making a specific investment decision without first seeking independent professional advice.