A survey shows most French employees feel unprepared to react when a colleague announces cancer. Breast cancer is common, and return to work is often poorly managed.
Survey highlights lack of preparedness
A survey by Fasterclass found that only 12% of French employees feel confident in responding when a colleague shares news of an illness, with 85% admitting they are unprepared for such a situation. Personal experience with cancer disclosure
Melanie, a 31-year-old breast cancer survivor in remission and a member of the Jeune et Rose association, shared her experience of informing her manager about her illness. Her manager was supportive and respected her break time, but she found returning to work after a long leave difficult due to significant changes in the work environment. High incidence of breast cancer in France
France has one of the highest rates of breast cancer globally, with around 61,000 new cases expected in 2023, according to the Ministry of Health. The National Cancer Institute (INCa) also reports that one in five people aged 18 to 54 who were working at the time of diagnosis are no longer employed five years later. Proposed charter to support cancer patients
To address employment challenges, the National Cancer Institute proposed a "Cancer and Employment" charter for companies. The initiative aims to improve support for employees facing cancer and help both managers and workers better anticipate the return to work. Avoiding awkwardness in conversations
The survey found that 31% of employees fear being awkward and 38% do not know what to say when a colleague reveals they have breast cancer. Among managers, 44% fear awkwardness and 33% are unsure how to respond. As a result, 62% of employees and 61% of managers have avoided discussing the illness with a colleague, with over one-third doing so multiple times. Importance of sensitive communication
Melanie emphasized the need to avoid comments suggesting that being young makes recovery easier, as younger patients often face more aggressive cancer progression. She also stressed that each cancer is unique and that minimizing the suffering of those affected should be avoided. Organizations like Cancer@Work and Wecare@Work provide resources to support affected employees and their colleagues.
