More than half of employers, or 56 per cent are worried about serious ill-health, including cancer, affecting their workforce, according to new research from Grid.
According to the research conducted in January, these concerns are shared by employees, with 25 per cent of over-60s and 15 per cent of the workforce overall worried about serious ill-health, including cancer.
Grid notes that cancer affects many employees directly or as carers, but its impact is often hidden, with some disclosing their diagnosis for treatment or workplace adjustments, while others keep it private. Many employer,s therefore, do not have a clear picture of how cancer is affecting their workforce, making well-communicated support essential.
Grid highlights that employers can support employees from diagnosis through recovery via education, treatment access, specialist care, lifestyle guidance and financial assistance and that support should be available from the point of diagnosis through to longer-term recovery.
According to Grid, cancer support needs to be comprehensive, visible, and easy to access, especially for employees who may be managing their condition quietly. Employer-funded group risk benefits, including group life assurance, group critical illness, and group income protection, already provide physical, mental, financial, and practical support for people affected by cancer and much of this is included as standard at no extra cost.
Grid believes this support is underused due to low awareness. Employers and advisers need to work together to improve understanding, both at the board level and across the wider workforce.
Grid spokesperson Katharine Moxham says: “Cancer remains one of the most significant health challenges facing today’s workforce, yet for many employers its true impact is still only partially visible. This research highlights the scale of concern and the opportunity for employers to do more to ensure every individual feels supported and able to access the help they need.
“Cancer touches each person in their own way. Some need support at the very start, some partway through, some after treatment ends, and some from the first moment to the last. Support should never be something people stumble across by chance or discover halfway along. It should be visible, clear, and present from the beginning, ready for anyone who chooses to lean on it.”