Supporting the return to work of breast cancer survivors: perspectives from Canadian employer representatives

Abstract

Pur pose A significant proportion of women with breast cancer want to RTW (return to work) after treatment. Employers play a key role in facilitating RTW for these employees who face distinct challenges. However, the portrait of these challenges remains to be documented from the perspective of employer representatives. The purpose of this article is to describe the perceptions of Canadian employer representatives regarding the management of the RTW of BCSs (breast cancer survivors). Methods Thirteen qualitative interviews were conducted with representatives from businesses of various sizes (< 100 employees, 100–500 employees, > 500 employees). Transcribed data were subjected to iterative data analysis. Results Three major themes emerged to describe employer representatives’ perceptions of managing RTW of BCS. These are (1) providing tailored support; (2) remaining ‘human’ while managing RTW; and (3) facing the challenges of RTW management after breast cancer. The first two themes were perceived as facilitating RTW. The challenges identified concern uncertainty, communication with the employee, maintaining a supernumerary work position, balancing employee and organizational interests, reconciling with colleagues’ complaints, and collaboration among stakeholders. Conclusions Employers can adopt a humanistic management style by offering flexibility and increased accommodation for BCS who RTW. They can also be more sensitive to this diagnosis, leading some to seek more information from those around them who have experienced it. Employers require increased awareness about diagnosis and side effects, be more confident to communicate, and improved collaboration between stakeholders to facilitate the RTW of BCS. Implications for cancer survivors Employers who focus on the individual needs of cancer survivors during RTW can facilitate creative and personalized solutions for a sustainable RTW and help survivors recover their lives after cancer.

"Hearing the pupils’ voices through my own struggles”: A qualitative study of return to work among school counselors who are breast cancer survivors

“…Survivors reported that they felt they were a burden on the system and that too much was being expected of them. The level of support provided by the employer can be crucial in returning to the workplace in that it can either promote or hinder an employee's return and ability to function [37,38]. Other studies reinforce this finding, showing that impatience on the part of a manager can have a negative impact on cancer survivors' performance and meaning of work, when they return to work [6,18,39,40].…”

Supporting Return to Work after Breast Cancer: A Mixed Method Study

“…According to a summary of qualitative studies, ‘offering work flexibility’ and ‘offering work accommodations’ are among the managerial interventions found to be most effective in fostering RTW [ 19 ]. From the point of view of employers, adopting a humanistic management style by offering flexibility and increased accommodation to BCSs could be the best strategy [ 20 ].…”