"Employers need to go out of their way to ensure they’re doing everything they can to facilitate this and help to close the Cancer Care Gap."
- Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson for GRiD
Of those surveyed (1,210), one in ten (12%) of employees said suffering a serious illness, such as cancer, was a major concern, rising to 19% amongst those aged 55 and above. Cancer is the main cause for claim across all group risk benefits, including Life Assurance, Income Protection, and Critical Illness, according to Group Risk Development (GRiD)’s 2015-2022 claims data.
Comprehensive support may include access to oncologists, second medical opinion services, virtual GPs, mental health services, assistance with navigating the NHS, and post-treatment support.
Likewise, GRiD has urged employers to support staff with life-changing conditions such as epilepsy. Line managers should learn how to communicate with employees in these situations and develop flexible pathways to help them remain in or return to the workplace. This may include Human Resources (HR) and Legal helplines.
Katharine Moxham, Spokesperson for GRiD, explained that “when someone is diagnosed with cancer it can feel like the rug has been pulled from beneath their feet.” Therefore, she believes “being in work and the positives that entails, such as providing stability, satisfaction, stimulation, and self-worth, are hugely important for the individual.”
“Employers need to step up and ensure they are enabling people with cancer to remain in the workplace if they wish to do so […] employers need to go out of their way to ensure they’re doing everything they can to facilitate this and help to close the Cancer Care Gap,” Katharine warned.
