Unintended consequences: the social context of cancer survivors and work

Abstract

These findings offer a new perspective on the complexities that can occur when cancer survivors interact with their workplace. Awareness of the existence and types of unintended consequences in this context can help provide a more comprehensive understanding of the cancer survivor and work interface.

Perceived employer‐related barriers and facilitators for work participation of cancer survivors: A systematic review of employers' and survivors' perspectives

“…In 2 instances, 2 studies described results using the same data, but both described supplementary barriers and facilitators and were therefore included . This resulted in a total of 47 studies, describing 45 different populations . Most studies were conducted in European ( n = 25) or North‐American ( n = 15) countries.…”

“…Survivors perceived continuous, regular, and weekly contact as a facilitator, while a lack of communication or no communication at all was perceived as barrier for cancer survivors' work participation . Positive, respectful, and personal interactions were perceived as facilitators, while negative, poor, ambiguous, frightening, patronising, discouraging, and pressuring communication from employers were perceived by survivors as barriers for their work participation . Discussing a survivor's work plan was perceived as facilitating their work participation: “ So I went and spoke with my manager (…) and we were able to sort out which projects, which teaching assignments, which tasks, which meetings I would have to miss due to my radiation treatments.…”

“…Some survivors felt discriminated against by the employer as a result of their sickness; for example, when the employer asked the survivor to resign, changed, or terminated the work of the survivor, or denied a deserved promotion: “ Suddenly my ex‐boss was asking me to quit the company to become a freelance consultant (…) I must say that there is job discrimination ” (p. 273) …”

“…17,25,49,52,54,73 Positive, respectful, and personal interactions were perceived as facilitators, while negative, poor, ambiguous, frightening, patronising, discouraging, and pressuring communication from employers were perceived by survivors as barriers for their work participation. 17,24,26,43,45,47,59,61,66 Discussing a survivor's work plan was perceived as facilitating their work participation 24,25,37,39,45,47,52,64 :…”

“…20,43,45,48 A negative work environment, that is, a non-supportive, rigidly structured, competitive, or hard-nosed environment, was perceived as a barrier for cancer survivors' work participation. 20,40,43,56 Discrimination Some survivors felt discriminated against by the employer as a result of their sickness; for example, when the employer asked the survivor to resign, changed, or terminated the work of the survivor, or denied a deserved promotion 39,53,59,65 : "Suddenly my ex-boss was asking me to quit the company to become a freelance consultant (…) I must say that there is job discrimination" (p. 273). 59…”