Communicating what you need at work

If you're feeling anxious about telling work about your cancer diagnosis, you’re not alone. In fact, around 7 in 10 people that are in employment when they are diagnosed with cancer fear sharing their diagnosis at work.¹

Fortunately, support is available to help you navigate the workplace while living with cancer. Read on to learn more about how you can communicate what you need from your employer and your colleagues.

Telling your manager and colleagues about your diagnosis

It’s totally up to you if, when and how you tell people at work about your diagnosis. It’s also your choice who you tell and who you don’t.

At minimum, it’s probably a good idea to tell your manager and/or a human resources (HR) representative. This can give you a chance to let them know about any changes in your schedule moving forward and ask for any adjustments you might need at work.

Remember it's okay to be direct about what you need from your manager and colleagues. There may be some things you need now, and some things you may need in the future, and you should be able to speak about these openly and without worry.

You may wish for your work life to remain as stable as possible, to give a sense of normality. This might mean you prefer not to speak about your diagnosis with a wider group of colleagues This is OK and there is no pressure to tell anyone you don’t want to. Anyone you do tell should respect you and keep the news secret – unless you’ve asked them to tell people on your behalf.

Taking time off and knowing when to return to work

While many people continue to work while living with cancer, others may find they need to develop a more flexible schedule and take short-term or long-term medical leave. You should be able to have an open conversation with your manager about any time off you need.  

You may be worried about letting work down or consequences of not being around as much. The important thing to remember is that you have rights. Visit Macmillan Cancer Support to learn more and find information and tips for working while living with cancer.²

Here are some ideas to support you in conversations about taking leave: 

• Ask your employer if it's possible for you to work from home some days or go from full time to part time
• Check your company can accommodate any physical needs you have
• Understand your rights

If you've taken time off work while living with cancer, you might be impatient to get back to work. But it can be hard to know when and how you should make that transition. Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding if it's time to return to work:

• Do you have any long-term effects from your treatment?
• What are the physical and mental demands of your job?
• What follow-up appointments have you scheduled with your healthcare team, and will they interfere with your regular work hours?
• Do you feel well enough to go back to work?
• Do you feel your company will be flexible and will try to accommodate any changes that are needed to your work schedule because of treatment?
• Once you've decided you're ready to go back, make a plan with your manager to reintroduce yourself back into the workplace

Remember, when communicating your needs at work

As you navigate the workplace during and after your cancer diagnosis, be sure to:

• Keep careful records of any discussions you have about your illness with your employer, including copies of job performance evaluations
• Check out The Equality Act, or the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) if you live in Northern Ireland, which are laws protecting employees with illnesses and/or disabilities
• Know your rights and don’t be afraid to ask for support or a second opinion if something doesn’t seem right