Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is hard enough. But figuring out what and how to tell your boss and colleagues is also difficult. For advice, we turned to Rebecca Nellis, director of programs for Cancer and Careers .
One of the biggest challenges employees with cancer face is sharing their diagnosis with their employers and co-workers. Determining what to tell — and to whom — can give rise to a complicated grid of questions. The following can help you simplify the process.
Should you tell?
Deciding whether to tell — and who to tell — is an intensely personal decision each of us must make for ourselves and it is closely related to the much bigger question of should you work through treatment. To decide what is right for you, it is helpful to ask yourself questions like
- How will treatment affect your work and schedule?
- How much time will you need off for surgery and treatment?
- What are your job demands both physical and mental?
- How flexible is your work environment, in terms of both hours per week and assignments?
- What are my legal rights?
To get to the bottom of these questions it is important to talk to your healthcare team about your job and your priorities, to get legal advice on your rights and to talk to your family and close friends.
Who to tell
Your boss? Your coworkers? Human resources? The answer depends on you and your experience in your work environment. Think about what kind of office culture you work in, is it close knit or corporate? Has anyone else ever gone through something similar, if so how did they handle it and who did they tell? For specific advice on how to talk to each audience (or who to tell if you’re the employer) visit the Cancer and Careers Who To Tell page.
When to tell
In most cases, the best time to tell is after you and your healthcare provider have discussed and determined a course of treatment. At that point, you'll know how your cancer will likely affect your job performance and/or your appearance (though because cancer treatment is a fluid and changing process make sure to keep in mind that things could change at any time). Then you can decide whether to tell people in advance or only as it becomes necessary.
How to tell
First, know that it's perfectly understandable to be nervous. This isn't easy information to share with anyone. No matter how close you are with your supervisor or co-workers, there's simply no sure-fire way to tell how they'll react. But they will look to you for clues; if you're clear and direct about it, they're less likely to shy away from the topic.
Prepare yourself for a wide range of responses. Remember that your own reactions to your diagnosis were varied, and if you didn't know how to react, chances are the people around you won't know either. Many will need a little time to get used to the idea. Acknowledging possible responses can help make facing those moments easier.
What to tell
If you want to keep the information you share to a minimum, consider disclosing the following:
- Your exact diagnosis
- An explanation, in layman's terms, of what your diagnosis means
- Prognosis
- Expected course of treatment
- Expected leave of absences or sick days, if any.
Prepare ahead of time, to review the information. Don't be alarmed if your employer requests documentation of your diagnosis. It's not a matter of mistrust — it's a matter of paperwork and protection on the employer's end.
Want more resources and advice about sharing your diagnosis at work? Check out the Sharing the News section on the Cancer and Careers website, or ask a question in our free online Career Coaching center.
Cancer and Careers is dedicated to empowering and educating people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events. Through a comprehensive website, free publications, career coaching, and a series of support groups and educational seminars for employees with cancer and their healthcare providers and coworkers, Cancer and Careers strives to eliminate fear and uncertainty for working people with cancer. Cancerandcareers.org informs more than 180,000 visitors per year, providing essential tools and information for employees with cancer.
One of the biggest challenges employees with cancer face is sharing their diagnosis with their employers and co-workers. Determining what to tell — and to whom — can give rise to a complicated grid of questions. The following can help you simplify the process.
Should you tell?
Deciding whether to tell — and who to tell — is an intensely personal decision each of us must make for ourselves and it is closely related to the much bigger question of should you work through treatment. To decide what is right for you, it is helpful to ask yourself questions like- How will treatment affect your work and schedule?
- How much time will you need off for surgery and treatment?
- What are your job demands both physical and mental?
- How flexible is your work environment, in terms of both hours per week and assignments?
- What are my legal rights?
To get to the bottom of these questions it is important to talk to your healthcare team about your job and your priorities, to get legal advice on your rights and to talk to your family and close friends.Who to tell
Your boss? Your coworkers? Human resources? The answer depends on you and your experience in your work environment. Think about what kind of office culture you work in, is it close knit or corporate? Has anyone else ever gone through something similar, if so how did they handle it and who did they tell? For specific advice on how to talk to each audience (or who to tell if you’re the employer) visit the Cancer and Careers Who To Tell page.
When to tell
In most cases, the best time to tell is after you and your healthcare provider have discussed and determined a course of treatment. At that point, you'll know how your cancer will likely affect your job performance and/or your appearance (though because cancer treatment is a fluid and changing process make sure to keep in mind that things could change at any time). Then you can decide whether to tell people in advance or only as it becomes necessary.
How to tell
First, know that it's perfectly understandable to be nervous. This isn't easy information to share with anyone. No matter how close you are with your supervisor or co-workers, there's simply no sure-fire way to tell how they'll react. But they will look to you for clues; if you're clear and direct about it, they're less likely to shy away from the topic.
Prepare yourself for a wide range of responses. Remember that your own reactions to your diagnosis were varied, and if you didn't know how to react, chances are the people around you won't know either. Many will need a little time to get used to the idea. Acknowledging possible responses can help make facing those moments easier.
What to tell
If you want to keep the information you share to a minimum, consider disclosing the following:
Prepare ahead of time, to review the information. Don't be alarmed if your employer requests documentation of your diagnosis. It's not a matter of mistrust — it's a matter of paperwork and protection on the employer's end.
Want more resources and advice about sharing your diagnosis at work? Check out the Sharing the News section on the Cancer and Careers website, or ask a question in our free online Career Coaching center.
Cancer and Careers is dedicated to empowering and educating people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events. Through a comprehensive website, free publications, career coaching, and a series of support groups and educational seminars for employees with cancer and their healthcare providers and coworkers, Cancer and Careers strives to eliminate fear and uncertainty for working people with cancer. Cancerandcareers.org informs more than 180,000 visitors per year, providing essential tools and information for employees with cancer.