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When cancer strikes the workplace: 10 ways to help
TWC's Online Resources: Education, Support, Hope
- Flexibility and support from the workplace significantly decreases stress. Many people undergoing cancer treatment can continue working, but may need some adjustments in schedules, workload, and even the ability to work from home. It's important to talk about situations that may arise with other employees who may feel overburdened if workloads are shifted. Clear communication can avoid many problems.
- Treat your employee or colleague the same way as always. Remember: It is still the same person.
- Say something. While it's natural to want to avoid the topic because we don't know what to say, silence isn't golden. Express sadness or concern, or even that you don't know what to say. But let them know you are thinking of them.
- Don't tell them about a friend or relative who died, or had a horrible cancer treatment experience. That isn't helpful.
- Don't tell them that everything will be okay, or that if they just stay positive, everything will turn out well. That's not necessarily true, and it may add pressure, rather than being reassuring.
- If you or a loved one has had cancer, ask if they'd like to hear about how you coped with it. That lets them know that they're not alone.
- Express concern, but expressions or reactions of extreme concern aren't necessarily helpful. Often, the person with cancer or loved one ends up having to comfort and reassure everyone else and doesn't get needed support.
- Offer to do something specific -- don't just ask what you can do to help. Often they are too overwhelmed to know what they need. Consider offering to provide a meal, assist with childcare, help get them to appointments, do the shopping, mow the lawn, get the oil changed, help with housework, etc.
- Cards usually are most welcome. Ask if calls would be appreciated. Sometimes phone calls are just one more thing that needs to be attended to and may be an intrusion. Often one person in the family is responsible for sending out an informational e-mail so that family doesn't have to offer updates repeatedly
- Remember that this may affect you and others in the office who know and/or care about your colleague. Be kind to each other.
Feel free to contact The Wellness Community for additional assistance.
We are happy to talk with your employees about their concerns and how they can support their co-workers.
Order TWCSV co-founder Rusty Hammer's book, When Cancer Calls Say Yes to Life: The Story of One Man's Journey Through Leukemia, through our convenient and secure online store at www.amazon.com