WORKING THROUGH TREATMENT
If you plan to continue working while undergoing treatment, you can make the process easier for yourself - as well as your employer and co-workers - through planning, preparation and communication.
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PREPARING YOURSELF
Know The Law
Know your legal rights - and those of your employer. No matter how good your relationship is with your employer, it is crucial to be prepared. Few people anticipate discrimination, and many don't recognize when their rights are being violated. (Brush up with Your Legal Rights In The Workplace.)
Know Your Diagnosis and Treatment
Before you approach colleagues, talk to your doctor specifically about how your illness can affect your career. Here are a few helpful tips to smooth the process:
- Tell your doctor exactly what your job is and any unique circumstances you'll be coping with.
- Let your doctor know that it's important to you to make decisions that are good for your health and your job whenever possible.
- Ask for general ideas of how your diagnosis, medication or treatment could affect your job.
- Know the specific details on all treatments and medicine. What are common reactions? What can you do to manage them? Know what each medicine is and how it will affect you. See if you can be flexible with the time you take your meds, in order to minimize any side effects at work. Ask about oral chemotherapy and other options that might be less disruptive to your work schedule.
- Ask your doctor for advice on working during treatment.
Know Your Company
Check with the human resources department to find out how your company has handled situations like yours in the past; many employers have developed contingency plans for sick workers, including job sharing arrangements and allowing employees to work from home. If there is no history, you're the trailblazer. Rather than waiting to see what's offered, make suggestions, such as:
- working from home
- schedule with flexible hours (reduced time, part-time)
- using your vacation time as sick days
- temporary shift in duties or even a whole new role within the company
- learning a new skill that would allow you to work remotely
Devise a Plan of Action
As with human resources, approach your boss with suggestions and solutions, demonstrating your commitment to your job and the company. Some thoughts:
- While you know your legal rights, tread lightly when mentioning them - alarmist supervisors could feel threatened.
- Use the same professional skills they hired you for - organization, planning, research - to develop and present your plan of action.
- Stick with clear, concise, factual information and suggestions for handling your course of treatment.
- Review our section on Sharing the News.
- Work with your employer to devise a reduced, altered or flexible schedule. Determine the times or days when your presence in the office is most crucial and schedule your time accordingly. Adjust your daily routine as well, scheduling the most important tasks for when you're feeling strongest.
PREPARING YOUR WORKPLACE
Like it or not, your treatment will affect your job performance in some way. Ensure support (not suspicion) from colleagues by letting them know what to expect. For example, cancer fatigue is very common and can affect your ability to perform, as well as your moods, emotions and concentration. Let them know this can happen, but reiterate your plan of action to cope with it.
Preparing Your Workspace
Your work environment should be as comfortable as possible - both physically and emotionally. If bringing in a special chair helps, then do it. Arrange your workspace for maximum comfort and convenience, placing the things you access most - telephone, computer, adding machine, file holders - within easy reach. This will save you the precious energy of crossing the room each time you need something. Make your workspace emotionally comforting as well by bringing in photos, plants, encouraging slogans - whatever it takes to keep your spirits up.
WHILE YOU ARE WORKING
Keeping a work diary or notes tracking everything from appointments to medications to reactions and absences can be very useful in helping you stay organized.
- Scheduling Work Appointments
Careful notes on how you feel throughout the day and week will reveal important patterns. Use this info when scheduling your work time so you can include as many peak performance hours as possible. If you know when you're likely to feel your best, you can schedule meetings and appointments with a greater degree of confidence about your physical well-being. - Scheduling Doctor Appointments
You can also use your diary to determine when to schedule doctor appointments and treatments. If you need a couple days to recover from treatment, try to schedule sessions for Friday afternoons. Or, if you know fatigue strikes three or four hours after treatment, try going in to work around 2 p.m. so you?ll be off work when it hits. - Tracking Work History
In addition, your notes on the hours you work, days off, appointments, etc., can prove crucial in confronting problems at work. Should the worst case scenario arise and you suspect your rights are being violated, you've got a detailed record of your own account.
Regular communication will help prevent your co-workers and supervisors from questioning your value and productivity as a staff member. Everyone will need reassurance that you're still part of the team. A lack of communication can result in confusion and anxiety - or even mistrust and suspicion - whereas clear and constant communication can offer a world of reassurance.
- Communicate with supervisors and co-workers about how you intend to hold up your end of things.
- Initiate regular meetings with supervisors - and colleagues, if appropriate - to review expectations and productivity.
- Inform supervisors and co-workers if there is any change in your condition or treatment that will affect your performance.
- If you need help, ask. It doesn't convey weakness - it shows you're invested in ensuring the best outcome for any given project.
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