You also shouldn’t have to accept a position you never would have considered before your illness. As long as you are able to fulfill your job duties, you can’t legally be fired for being sick. Hiring, promotion, and how you are treated in the workplace should depend entirely on your abilities and qualifications. You have the same rights as anyone else in the workplace and should be given equal opportunities, regardless of whether or not you tell people at work about your cancer. Legal protections for working people with cancer It might help you to read Telling Others About Your Cancer. It also helps to think ahead about how you will handle other people’s reactions, and have a plan for what and how much you want to share. Others may ask intrusive questions about your health or why you've been gone, or they might even avoid you. Some co-workers may resent that they had to take on extra duties on days when you were absent. Some people may be reminded of a loved one’s time with cancer. Others may feel uncomfortable around you. Those who know what you've been going through may react to your cancer diagnosis and absences with understanding and offers to help. You may find that your co-workers have different reactions to you when you go back to work. Only you can decide what works best for you and your situation. Try not to feel pressured to share or explain things. How open you are with your co-workers about your cancer and health after cancer treatment is a personal decision. Based on your relationship with your co-workers, you can decide if you want to share anything, and how much you would like to share. Telling co-workers about your cancer treatment Try to be patient and take care of yourself as you go back to your “normal” life. You may find that you tire easily or have trouble focusing at first. If you are thinking of going back to work, make sure you are medically cleared first by your health care provider. You may also want to talk with your employer about possible options, like flex-time, job sharing, working from home (telecommuting) or other options that may help ease you back into the demands of your job.įor some people the transition to working full-time may be easy, but for others it may take some adjustment. Sometimes cancer can make you feel very isolated and lonely, and being around people can be a great comfort. You’ll also have regular contact with others when you go back to work. Your job may remind you that you have a life apart from cancer – you are a valued employee, a great boss, or a trusted co-worker. It might help even boost your self-esteem, not to mention your income. You might find that going back to work helps you keep your sense of who you are and how you fit in. And now you might be thinking about going back to work after your treatment is finished. You may have been able to take time off work while getting treatment.
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