Part of dealing with a new cancer diagnosis involves deciding how to let those around you know what’s happening. While you’ll probably want your loved ones to know about your diagnosis and treatment, deciding whether to tell your employer can be a more challenging process.
Here are some tips if you’re weighing the decision to share your cancer diagnosis at work.
Start with a clear picture of your treatment. Before you go to your employer, talk with your doctor about what to expect. Ask whether you’ll need time off to recover from chemotherapy or surgery. It’s also a good idea to ask how other people typically feel during and after your types of treatment. Let your doctors and nurses know what your job involves and ask what type of work schedule they might recommend. This also makes them aware of another important aspect of your life that is being affected by your cancer care.
Make a list of work-related changes you think you might need while you’re in treatment. For example, if you’re worried you’ll feel tired or ill after chemotherapy, note that you may need to change your work schedule or take certain days off.
If you’re worried about approaching your boss with such requests, keep in mind that federal laws protect cancer patients from discrimination. For example, employers are legally required to help you do your job during or after cancer treatment by providing reasonable accommodations, such as an adjusted work schedule or time off for doctor’s appointments.
You may also want to talk to your human resources department about work accommodations you may need during treatment.
As you make your plans, be sure to enlist the help of others. Think about how friends or family may help. And take time to talk with a professional, such as a social worker, who can help you address the challenges of managing work and cancer care.
Decide who to tell. While you aren’t required to tell your employer or coworkers about your diagnosis, you may get questions if you miss a lot of work or your productivity lags.
Rather than not telling anyone, you might want to tell just a few people, such as your boss or coworkers you trust. Or you might decide to tell everyone, depending on your work environment. The most important factor in this decision is your comfort, so do what you feel is best for you.
Use this as an opportunity to educate. Whether you’re talking to your boss or your coworkers, think of your conversation as a chance to help others understand what you’ll be going through. People often have a lot of misconceptions about cancer. They may assume it’s going to be terrible and you’ll never be able to work during treatment, but that’s not necessarily the case.
While every situation is different and there’s no crystal ball, many people continue to work successfully through treatment. You could also use this as a chance to let others know where and when you might need help in your work during treatment.
Keep a record. Employers are usually very supportive of employees going through cancer treatment, but this isn’t true 100 percent of the time. It’s a good idea to keep track of discussions you have with your boss or human resources office. Hang on to copies of work reviews, emails or letters about your performance, or requests for accommodations. This documentation will be helpful if you need to take action to uphold your rights in the workplace.
If you’d like to learn more about your rights as an employee, you can contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Depending on where you live, you may also have state laws that apply to your situation.
If you’re a Dana-Farber patient, you can speak with one of our licensed social workers to help you think through your situation, learn more about your rights, and what options to consider as you move forward. Everyone is different and the process of responding to a cancer diagnosis is very personal, so meeting with a social worker who is familiar with your cancer may be a good starting point.
Nancy Borstelmann, LICSW, MPH, is a licensed clinical social worker who serves as Dana-Farber’s director of patient and family support and education.
Courtesy of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
