UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE
Keep in mind that your company may have existing policies, procedures and processes that should be followed when someone on your team shares that he or she has cancer or is caring for someone with cancer. This toolkit is designed to complement but not replace your company’s existing requirements. Knowing what your company already provides is important in understanding your role.
As a manager, you will want to balance the company and employees’ needs. Among the issues you may face are:
- Maintaining fair compensation
- Adjusting work schedules over the course of treatment
- Enabling flexible schedules during treatment and recovery
- Working out communication
- Protecting the diagnosed employee’s privacy as asked
- Managing the expectations of co-workers
- Maintaining the morale of the workplace, including the person with cancer and the work team
When you manage an employee with cancer well, you provide an invaluable service to the employee, inspiration to the team, and benefit to the company. It can be personally rewarding, as well.
Be sure to provide your employee with the Workplace Transitions: For Employees brochure, which includes resources and information on managing cancer in the workplace.
