Only One in Three Employees with Cancer Satisfied with Workplace Adjustments
In September of 2023, research was conducted for Working To Wellbeing among 566 line managers in the UK and 112 people who have, or have had, cancer in the workplace by Opinium Research.
This research was conducted in the interest in finding if employees with cancer in the workplace have been satisfied with the adjustments made to allow them to return to work. Some of the statistics found as part of the research include:
- One in four (23%) UK line managers would proactively explain to a colleague with a long-term health condition, such as cancer, their rights at work according to the Equality Act 2010
- 47% of line managers feel they would be able to offer and support with some reasonable adjustments in their workplace to colleagues with cancer
- Just over one in three (36%) workers who have/had cancer in the workplace have been satisfied that they received reasonable adjustments to their job to manage their health
Working To Wellbeing’s Cancer Support Service focuses on physical, cognitive, psychological and emotional components of cancer; 3 in 4 people it works with successfully sustained, or returned to, work.
Working To Wellbeing Managing Director, and chartered health psychologist, Dr Julie Denning said: ” In our (Working To Wellbeing’s) decade long experience as a back-to-work rehabilitation specialist, we’ve found that many people with cancer want and need to be in work. Our study has shown though that still only one in three have felt satisfied that they received reasonable adjustments to their job to manage their health, with few feeling satisfied with the level of workplace modifications, flexible working and coaching offered too.”
We’d like to thank all of the journalists and platforms that have shared any information from our research. The full list of coverage can be found below with links to the articles and links to the writers LinkedIn.
Release One
- Employer News – ‘Only one third of people with cancer in the workplace feel satisfied with employers’ “reasonable adjustments” to accommodate their needs’
- Health and Care Protection – ‘Only quarter of line managers explain workplace rights to long term sick staff’
- Occupational Health & Wellbeing Plus – ‘Cancer and work: Less than half of managers know how to offer support’
- Protection Reporter – ‘Working To Wellbeing: Only 47% of line managers think they can offer support to employees with cancer in the workplace’
- Workplace Wellbeing – ‘Limited Satisfaction Among Cancer Patients and Workplace Adjustments’
- Reward Strategy – ‘Workplace adjustments for cancer patients falls short’
Release Two
- Employee Benefits – Exclusive: 43% of staff with cancer were satisfied with their return-to-work programme
- Personnel Today – Employees with cancer unhappy with return-to-work support
- Protection Reporter – 75% of women in the workplace weren’t satisfied with career advice received after a cancer diagnosis
- Workplace Wellbeing News – Just 4 in 10 Employees With Cancer Felt Satisfied With Return-To-Work Programme
- Reward Strategy – Beyond Blue Monday
- Employer News – Just 4 in 10 employees with cancer felt satisfied with the return-to-work programme offered by their employer
- Health and Care Protection – Just 43% of employees with cancer satisfied with work support
Release Three
- Workplace Wellbeing News – Vocational Rehabilitation for Long-Term Health Conditions Vital For Employee Retention
- Protection Reporter – Working To Wellbeing reveals 80% of line managers believe vocational rehabilitation support is important after long-term illness
Working To Wellbeing (W2W) provides consultancy and intervention for health and wellbeing at work. We provide wellbeing and rehabilitation services, supporting employees with physical health, mental health and long term conditions, the 3 key causes of presenteeism and absence. We join the dots between the physical and mental health issues that cause and perpetuate poor health. Our specialist clinicians are highly trained to provide a truly integrated service that results in health behaviour change and optimum work capability.