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An
Employment Perspective for a Cancer Survivor
Work fulfills a critical financial and emotional
need for most cancer survivors. In addition to providing income
and important benefits such as health insurance, employment also
can be a source of self-esteem. Cancer, however, may create barriers
to finding and keeping a job, as well as wreak havoc on the ability
to pay bills and to obtain adequate health insurance.
Although
most employers treat cancer survivors fairly and legally, some employers
erect unnecessary and sometimes illegal barriers to survivors' job
opportunities. Survivors can best protect themselves from employment
discrimination by learning how to advocate for their rights in the
workplace.
An
employer cannot treat you differently from other workers in job
related activities because of your cancer history as long as you
are qualified for the job. You may be protected by employment laws
only if:
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you
are qualified for the job (you have the necessary skills, experience
and education) and you can do the essential duties of the job
in question; and |
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your
employer treated you differently from other workers in job related
activities because of your cancer treatment or history; and |
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at
some time your cancer substantially limited your ability to
do everyday activities or your employer thought that your cancer
so limited you. |
If
you feel that you have been treated unfairly, discuss the issues
with your own human resource personnel.
Looking
for a New Job
If
you are looking for a new job, you can take several steps to enhance
your employability and lessen the chance of discrimination because
of your cancer history:
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Do
not lie on a job. If you are
hired and your employer later learns that you lied, you may
be fired for your dishonesty. Insurance companies may refuse
to pay benefits or cancel your coverage. If you are asked a
question with regarding your health, give an honest (and perhaps
indirect) answer that emphasizes your current abilities to do
the job. Besides, most companies would require you to go for
a medical examination or submit a medical record after they
have made you a conditional job offer. |
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Keep
the focus on your current ability to do the job in question.
Employers may not ask how often you were
absent from past jobs, but they can ask if you can meet the
employers' current attendance requirements. |
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Apply
only for jobs that you are able to do. It
is not illegal for an employer to reject you for a job if you
are not qualified for it, regardless of your medical history.
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If
you have to explain a long period of unemployment during cancer
treatment, if possible, explain it in a way that shows your
illness is past, and that you are in good health and are expected
to remain healthy.
One way to de-emphasize a gap in your
work history because of cancer treatment is to organize your
resume by experience and skills, instead of by date. |
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Offer
your employer a letter from your doctor that explains your current
health status, prognosis and ability to work. Be
prepared to educate the interviewer about your cancer and why
cancer often does not result in death or disability. |
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Seek
help from a job counselor or social worker with resume preparation
and job interviewing skills. Practice
answers to expected questions such as "why did you miss
a year of work" or "why did you leave your last job?"
Answers to these questions must be honest, but should stress
your current qualifications for the job and not past problems,
if any, resulting from your cancer experience. |
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Do
not discriminate against yourself by assuming that cancer leaves
you unable to work.
Although cancer treatment leaves some
survivors with real physical or mental disabilities, many survivors
are capable of performing the same duties and activities as
they did prior to diagnosis. With the help or your medical team,
make an honest assessment of your abilities compared with the
mental and physical demands of the job. |
Here
are some suggestions to avoid being treated differently at work:
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Have
a discussion with your human resource personnel for resolving
employment issues informally. |
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If
you need some kind of accommodation to help you work, such as
a flexible working hours to accommodate doctor’s appointments,
suggest several alternatives to your employer. |
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Educate
employers and co-workers who might believe that people cannot
survive cancer and remain productive workers. |
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Seek
support from your co-workers. |
Reference:
Working It Out by Barbara Hoffman, Founding
Chair, National Coalition for Cancer Survivors, USA.
http://www.canceradvocacy.org/resources/essential/employment.aspx
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