Why workplace support can be vital in beating cancer
Half of people in the UK will get with cancer in their lifetime — about 1,000 people every day, according to Cancer Research UK. Cancer is becoming more prevalent in the workplace and will affect your workforce.
Fortunately, cancer survival rates are improving, doubling in the last 40 years in the UK. And research into less aggressive treatments enables people to live better with cancer.
Impact on the workforce
Notably for employers, Macmillan estimates around 890,000 working age people live with cancer. Plus, at least another 700,000 people juggle work and caring for a sufferer. A recent report placed an estimated £7.6bon loss in UK productivity due to cancer.
Unum has seen these trends in its claims data. Over the past five years, cancer was the top claims across its critical illness, group life and group income protection (GIP) policies. In 2022, cancer accounted for 69% of critical Illness, 36% of life claims and 32% of GIP claims.
Unum’s recent research into cancer in the workplace found almost three-quarters of people who recover from cancer plan to return to work. Most (70%) who have already returned to work believe they could have done so sooner if their employer offered better support, indicating that employers still have work to do on their cancer support packages.
The importance of support
For many people affected by cancer, employment is more than just a means of income. It’s important to their identity and self-esteem while keeping them connected to society.
Ongoing employment and a successful return to work can promote a sense of normality and control during an emotionally challenging time.
Encouragingly, Unum’s research shows that having a supportive employer meant 31% of respondents felt more productive at work through cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Prevention better than cure
The World Health Organization believes between 30-50% of all cancers are preventable. This is important for employers to remember when formulating their support packages. Consider regular, high-quality health and wellbeing education to increase your workforce’s understanding of cancer risks, early signs and prevention.
Opportunities to be active, make healthy food choices and promote the benefits of screening are the cornerstone of cancer prevention and help identify potential issues early.
One size doesn’t fit all
Cancer affects people in different ways. Symptoms, treatments, prognoses and how people react and cope are unique to each individual. As an employer, you may need to support staff at various stages of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Offering cancer support is only one piece of the jigsaw. It’s also vital that it’s easily accessible. Research shows that empowered people achieve better health outcomes, so it’s important to remove barriers employees may face in accessing the support they deserve.
Open communication
Employers must take time to understand each employee’s individual situation and keep lines of communication open.
Seven in 10 people with cancer said they could have returned to work sooner with better support from their employer. However, one reason for this might be that 73% of employees with cancer found it difficult to discuss their illness with their employer at all.
It’s important to check in regularly to re-evaluate with the employee, even if everything seems to have returned to ‘normal’. Continued access to multidisciplinary support must not end with an employee’s active treatment.
At this stage, they often require a greater level of support as some symptoms can persist long after treatment. Focusing on mental health, building resilience and offering vocational support will be critical in optimising an employee’s health.
For example, employees covered by Unum’s GIP can access our vocational rehabilitation experts, who support when an employee is at work and struggling with ill health, while they’re off sick and with easing returning to work at the employee’s own pace.
Workplace support can have a profoundly beneficial impact on the lives of everyone affected by cancer. By offering a range of expert-led and timely support services, employers can empower their employees to navigate their cancer journey with greater confidence and resilience in a way that is right for them.
