Work and cancer FAQs

You do not have to tell your employer you have cancer or are having cancer treatment. But it may help. Many people find that their employers are supportive. You can ask them to keep things confidential. This means they will not tell anyone what you have told them. If you do not find your employer to be supportive, we have more information about resolving problems at work. You can also call our Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00 for more advice.

It is up to you if you want to tell colleagues about your diagnosis. Talking to the people you work with about it can be difficult. You may decide to tell the people you feel closest to at first. They may be able to help you plan how to tell others. Or you can ask your manager to tell your colleagues about your diagnosis.

Some people keep working during treatment. They may be able to reduce their hours or make changes to their job. These are examples of reasonable adjustments. Others may take time away from work during treatment and for a while after. The type of leave you take depends on any leave policies your employer has.

You may need to take time off for appointments and treatment. You do not have a legal right to paid time off for things like medical appointments unless your employment contract specifically states this. But if you talk to your employer as soon as possible, you can both agree on what to do.

Your employer may allow you to have time off work in different ways, including:

• sick leave
• reducing the number of hours you work in a day or week, which could be temporary or permanent
• approved unpaid leave
• paid holiday leave (annual leave)
• paid or unpaid compassionate leave
• flexible working – for example, you could try working condensed hours over fewer days.

Your manager or HR manager can give you information about the sickness policy and other options. They can explain if different types of leave are paid or unpaid, and what you are entitled to.

Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will give you more information about the cancer and possible treatments. You might want to talk to your manager about the side effects of your treatment. If you tell them how you are feeling, they may be able to support you. We have more information about different cancer types, treatments and their side effects.

You may be unable to work during your cancer treatment. There are different benefits that you may be able to get. Sick pay and employment and support allowance (ESA) are some examples. We have more information about benefits or you can call one of our money advisers.

If you are off sick for more than 7 days, you will need a fit note to cover your illness. This is also called a sick note or a Statement of Fitness for Work. This explains how your health affects what you can do at work. You can get a fit note from any healthcare professional who has been treating you. For example, this could be your GP, specialist nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist or physiotherapist.

If you have cancer, the law considers this a disability. This means you cannot be treated less favourably than people who do not have cancer because you have cancer. You also cannot be treated less favourably for reasons connected to the cancer. That would be discrimination.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer in the past, you will continue to have legal protection against discrimination even if you no longer have cancer. You will also have protection if you move to another employer.

We have more information in our Your Rights at Work booklet or you can call the Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00 and talk to one of our money advisers.