New advice aims to support workers with cancer

New guidance on supporting people with cancer at work has been issued by the TUC as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

More than 700,000 people of working age are living with cancer across the UK, and as survival rates improve and people retire later, many people will continue to work after, and even during, cancer treatment.

The new advice has been put together by TUC Education and Macmillan Cancer Support and is aimed at union reps, employees, line managers and employers. It provides guidance on confidentiality, flexibility and reasonable adjustments — everyone with cancer is covered by the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 — as well as keeping in touch with people who are off sick, return-to-work, and wider support for staff who are caring for partners, children or relatives who have been diagnosed with cancer.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “There is enormous scope for union reps to ensure employers support their staff effectively, and everyone should be in a trade union to get their voice heard and their interests represented at work.”

www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/tuc-issues-guidance-supporting-staff-cancer-work

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