Australian employers are being urged to prepare for a spike in staff numbers affected by cancer in the next decade, otherwise millions more working days could be lost if companies don’t offer their employees adequate support.

More than 40 per cent of cancer cases occur in people of working age (18-65) and about 7.7 million sick days will be lost to prostate and breast cancer in NSW alone in the next 10 years.

Cancer Council NSW has released these figures to encourage employers to think about how they can support employees during these challenging times.

Gillian Batt, Director of Cancer Information and Support Services, Cancer Council NSW explains: “As the population ages, incidence of cancer is expected to continue to rise. The heartening news is that survival rates for many cancer types are increasing, and treatments continue to improve.

“Many people want to, and are still very capable of working during and after their treatment, but some people may find that their treatment will affect the way they are able to do their job.

“This does not mean cancer patients can’t do a good job, but some flexibility and planning will not only make their job more manageable but will help ensure business productivity remains at an optimal level.”

Cancer Council NSW recently consulted employers across a range of industries, including large financial institutions like the Commonwealth Bank, as well as small to medium enterprises.

From their feedback a downloadable toolkit of resources, available from www.cancercouncil.com.au/workplaces, has been produced to assist managers and human resources professionals to provide a supportive and fair work environment.

“If patients and carers want to continue working then employers can retain their valued and experienced staff by offering some flexibility and adjustments. Small but practical steps can go a long way, and can also boost morale, enhance your organisation’s reputation and save hiring and training costs,” said Ms Batt.

The resources include practical tips for employers and managers about:
• creating workplaces that are cancer-friendly
• developing appropriate policies
• talking to employees about their cancer
• balancing treatment and workplace needs
• supporting employees who are caring for someone with cancer
• dealing with death and bereavement

Here are just a few practical things an employer can do to make it a little easier for employees affected by cancer:
• Flexible working arrangements
• Temporary adjustments to workload
• Additional leave
• Access to parking
• A quiet place for a rest
• Access to counselling
• Return-to-work plan
• Buddy system
• Promote understanding of cancer among colleagues
• Ergonomic assessment

The online employer and employee resources provide further information about cancer, treatment and side effects, and outline practical suggestions for workplaces.

Media Contact:  Yvonne Gallacher, Public Relations Officer, Tel: 02 9334 1372 / 0404 577 005 or email: yvonneg [at] ccnsw [dot] org [dot] au

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