Most employers want to help valued workers. Employers know that it is good for the company to help employees who are committed to their jobs. Be honest with your boss if you think you will need to adjust your work hours or duties during your treatment. You should then expect your boss to welcome your return to work after treatment.
Once in a while a business will not be as understanding as you might hope. Employers sometimes think cancer patients will miss large blocks of time from work or will not be able to do their work well. Studies show this is not true. In fact, studies show that people with cancer are more reliable employees than the general work force. If you feel that your employers think you are unable to do your job, talk to your doctor or social worker. They may agree to speak to your boss and explain your illness and ability to work.
If you cannot return to your job, it may be difficult to look for a new job. Job applications often ask about a person's health background. Employers often fear that a person with a chronic illness will use more health insurance coverage than a person without such an illness.
You should know that it is against the law for a business to discriminate against hiring anyone with a cancer background. The federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992 forbids discrimination by any organization with over 25 employees. The questions you are asked on a job application or in a job interview must relate to your ability to perform the job you would like. Also, be aware that you cannot be asked to have a prefab medical exam unless all people who apply for the job are asked to have the same exam. For more on this topic, see the American Cancer Society brochure, The Americans with Disabilities Act: Protection for Cancer Patients Against Employment Discrimination.
You may need to find a new job because you cannot do the type of work you did before cancer. If so, you may meet the guidelines for job rehabilitation through the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. There are people and agencies ready to help you if you are having job problems because of cancer.
First, talk to your doctor about your job difficulties. Your doctor will make sure that you are correctly judging your ability to perform your job. If your doctor agrees you need a new type of work, then your doctor or social worker can refer you to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
If you need help finding a new job and do not need job rehabilitation, call the Office of Employment Security or a private employment firm.
Be sure to talk to your boss if you think you will need to adjust your work hours during active treatment. Most bosses will be helpful if they know what to expect from the start. Your employer might assign you a less taxing job during the time of active treatment. Employers, under the Human Relations Act, must make "reasonable accommodations" to the needs of skilled workers.
If you need more information about job problems or fairness in the workplace, contact your local American Cancer Society office and ask for a copy of Cancer - Your Job, Insurance and the Law. You can also call the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, a group that concerns itself with job problems of people with cancer. The organization's telephone number is 1-301-650-8868.
If you plan to change jobs, find out how your health insurance will be affected. The insurance policy at the new job may exclude you for a certain period of time. It is important to know how you will be covered before you decide to change jobs.
This Fact Sheet is adapted from the book, Helping People Cope: A Guide for Families Facing Cancer, written by Joan F. Hermann, ACSW, Sandra L. WojtEowiak, RN, MSN, Peter S. Houts, Ph.D., and S. Benham Kahn, MD, and supported by the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health; 1990 Revised Edition.
c 1993, American Cancer Society, Inc.
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