Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

DisabilitySickness absence managementOccupational Health

Workers feel their employer would not support them if they got cancer

by Nic Paton 31 Aug 2017
by Nic Paton 31 Aug 2017

More than one-third of staff (36%) believe they would get no form of support from their employer were they to be diagnosed with cancer, research from insurer Canada Life Group Insurance has suggested.

Even more worrying, this rose to 45% of employees who have or have had cancer in the past, it added.

Both the findings appear to indicate UK employers are not doing enough to provide help for staff who develop a long-term illness such as cancer, Canada Life argued, despite the fact cancer is estimated to affect one in two people during their lifetime, and incidence rates among those aged 25-49 have risen by 20% in the past 20 years.

Despite this growing occurrence of cancer among those of working age, 21% of employees polled said they had no idea if their employer offered any support to those diagnosed with the condition.

Fewer than one-third (31%) felt they would be granted flexible working and time off when needed if diagnosed with cancer, falling to 27% among those who had experienced cancer before.

Just a quarter (25%) thought they would be given return-to-work support on recovery, and even fewer anticipated access to occupational health services (16%) or adjusted workloads and performance targets (16%). Only 10% believed their employer provided financial benefits such as critical illness cover.

Two in five (41%) would also be uncomfortable talking to their employer and/or colleagues about a cancer diagnosis, and more than one in 10 (13%) said they would be “scared” to do so in case their manager or employer thought they were no longer up to the job. Nearly a fifth (18%) said they would feel uncomfortable about asking for time off.

Paul Avis, marketing director at Canada Life Group Insurance, said: “The fact that more than one-third of people think they would get absolutely no support from their employer if diagnosed with cancer is extremely worrying.

“Cancer treatment can cause many to have to work reduced hours or stop working altogether. Sufferers should be able to make getting better their main priority without worrying about job security and financial stability,” he added.

“People who have personally experienced cancer are more sceptical about the support of their employer, which is particularly damning. While many employers might feel they are understanding and accommodating when it comes to cancer, it is clear that more needs to be done in terms of support.”

Nic Paton
Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consulting editor of OHW+. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for OHW+ and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

previous post
Occupational health research round-up: September 2017
next post
Occupational health models: Ruth Alston’s legacy and influence

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Insight into severity of menopause symptoms

27 May 2022

Occupational health reforms ‘need momentum’, urges SOM

27 May 2022

CPD: Understanding occupational health career pathways (on-demand webinar)

26 May 2022

CPD activities: Occupational health career pathways

26 May 2022

Record prostate cancer screenings post-pandemic

24 May 2022

Interim advice published on Covid autumn boosters

23 May 2022

Signs of severe eating disorders often missed, warns...

23 May 2022

GPs call for new OH service to relieve...

23 May 2022

Occupational health key to helping employers manage long...

23 May 2022

Three in 10 say physical health has worsened...

20 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today