How to Tell Your Boss You Have Cancer
Written By: Katie Blais
There isn’t a guidebook for navigating a career with a cancer diagnosis. At What I Wish I Knew, our mission is to address the parts of cancer that often go unnoticed with tips, resources, and guidance. While our advice isn’t one size fits all, we hope that it helps alleviate some of the stress that a cancer diagnosis brings about.
While everyone’s cancer and career journey looks different, there are many experiences that patients, survivors, and caregivers all share. From telling your boss about your diagnosis to asking for time off for treatments, cancer can complicate your career, but it doesn’t have to define it. Let’s explore some resources and advice for navigating the professional world with cancer.
Know Your Rights
Utilizing your workplace rights as an employee can help prepare you to tell your employer about your diagnosis. Understanding the protections in place for employees navigating cancer can also help you feel secure and financially stable. Here are some important networks to explore to ensure you’re protected during this unprecedented time.
Job Accommodation Network: The Job Accommodation Network provides free guidance regarding workplace accommodations. Explore possible accommodations related to cancer symptoms so you are prepared when expressing your needs at work.
Americans with Disabilities Act: The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with disabilities from discrimination, including those who have been impacted by cancer. Click the link for a resource-filled guide from the ADA.
Family and Medical Leave Act: The Family and Medical Leave Act helps cancer patients take job-protected leaves to focus on treatment.
How to tell your employer about your diagnosis
If you are nervous to tell coworkers about your diagnosis, you are not alone. While it may seem nerve-racking to open up about personal matters at work, open and honest communication from the beginning is important. Letting coworkers and managers know about your diagnosis can help you secure accommodations early on, making the transition smoother. Here are some tips to consider when sharing the news:
Schedule a quiet time to meet with your supervisor so that you don’t feel rushed.
Remember, you are not obligated to share specific details. Only share what you feel comfortable with.
Create a plan that addresses your needs. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries to ensure proper delegation of tasks.
If you feel anxious, consider bringing a friend or family member for support and note-taking.
Utilizing National Organizations
Did you know there are national nonprofits dedicated to helping people with cancer thrive in their careers? Organizations that focus on career support and guidance can be a great resource to explore during this uncharted time. Let’s take a look at a few:
Cancer and Careers: Cancer and Careers provides expert information and support for cancer patients juggling work and treatment. A few of their resources include career coaches, resume workshops, action plans and emergency funds for patients.
Triage Cancer: Triage Cancer is a national nonprofit that provides free education centered around the legal and practical issues of a cancer diagnosis. They have extensive information for navigating work and insurance-related challenges and also host their own podcast.
Workplace Options Cancer Care Compass Program: Cancer Care Compass supports employees living with cancer through a clinically guided support program. Patients and survivors are matched with a Cancer Care Coordinator who is trained in workplace reintegration. Their program takes a holistic approach to support personal and professional recovery.
Explaining Resume Gaps
For many survivors who had to leave their jobs completely to focus on treatment, re-entering the job market can feel intimidating. While the programs listed above offer many amazing resources, explaining the gap in your resume may still feel nerve-racking. One way to remedy this is by creating a functional resume. Functional resumes focus on specific skills and qualifications rather than chronological work history. This type of resume is great for people with career gaps because it highlights transferable skills while minimizing gaps in work history. Explore this in-depth guide published by Indeed for specific tips on how to write one.
Navigating a career with cancer is a process that will look a little different for everyone. While it can feel overwhelming at times, there are resources available to help protect and empower you, both personally and professionally. If you’re interested in learning more about the intersections of cancer and careers, make sure to follow us on LinkedIn.