What impact can an employer make on a cancer sufferer’s journey?

"Sometimes employers think a person who's had cancer shouldn't be in work, but it can be very important for people to have the social contact and the income.” Disability Rights Commission

Cancer is a terrifying, horrific journey of unknown duration and the support, or lack of, from your employer can make a huge difference to where you come out the other end! Going through this journey you use all your energy on dealing with your cancer, you have none to deal with the repercussions of the illness – financial, status – both in work and with family/friends, appearance, self-esteem. But what impact does an employer have on the journey of a cancer sufferer?

I am almost uniquely lucky, I returned to my original job within a company & team of people who fought with me all the way & always made me feel included. I have an employer, Stevie Kidd, who gave me support above and beyond expected, having only been with his company one year. From the moment he knew of my diagnosis (Grade3 cancer), while my head was still focused on my mortality, acceptance of the situation and all the thought processes that went with that, he reassured me that my job would still be there, that I was part of a team, we would fight it together, ensured I was still paid my full salary – allowing my daughter & family to stay, and me not to worry about the financial implications. I was encouraged to come to the office for visits, he closed the office one lunchtime to allow us to go out for lunch as a team. All kept me included in celebrations of achievement through photos, sent at the time not after the fact! Cards, gifts, things to do(for me & my family) unexpected DVD’s with messages from all arrived in the post. Texts, phone calls and visits, when I felt up to it. All were a continual over that year, no pressure to reply, no need to work at being kept in the loop – there was an unconditional acceptance of who I was, what my role was, where my future lay with the company & with all of these people.

Did I realise the pressure that this lifted from me at the time, not until a long way into the journey. In discussion it became clear my experience was the exception to the rule. It was heartbreaking to watch others struggle to sort out their financial issues while undergoing gruelling & exhausting treatments. Angering to see people, already battling, have to work through feelings towards their employers who they had worked hard for, for many years. As job roles were changed, unknown people sent to assess whether capable of returning to existing job roles, assessments given as sick leave was exhausted there were no phone calls or visits from managers/employers, no glimpse of humanity in dealing with these situations. At a time when self-esteem, physical and mental strength, confidence, ability to cope are all at their lowest ebb, to be faced with these situations and lack of empathy is crippling.

Being left without a job, going back to a different job, feeling as if your illness has been swept aside all have consequences for these individuals as they have returned, or not returned, to their places of employment. I have returned to work with full support, a positive attitude towards the future, into the same job, within the same company, others have not been so lucky.

Does the attitude of an employer and the support you receive, financial & emotional, have an impact on a cancer sufferer’s journey, absolutely! At the start of this blog I posed the question “What impact can an employer make on a cancer sufferer’s journey?” The answer - MONUMENTAL!

4 Comments

Posted by James McMahon on 31 December 2011

A lovely lady and a true inspiration. I wish Ali all the best for 2012 James.

Posted by John Ferrier on 02 November 2011

Quite remarkable.

Posted by Lynsey Mackay on 28 October 2011

You are such an amazing woman, Ali! Really great blog, was so good to meet you when you came back after all the great things I had heard!

Posted by Roger on 28 October 2011

Ali, you are an amazing woman and I know how much the team and Stevie wanted to support and carry you through this with your friends and family. A fantastic story and a lead to other employers out there.

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