Return to work meeting and reasonable adaptations

[SarahBa]

I’m looking for some advice please. I will be having my sixth (and hopefully final) chemo session next week and have got my CT scan this week followed by a telephone call with my consultant oncologist next week. I will then soon be having my return to walk call with my line manager.

I was diagnosed with endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer (stage 1c2 and grade 2) in November last year (2021) and wish to do everything I can to minimise the risk of a recurrence and this means looking after my health.

My job can be stressful at times and I don’t know if stress hormones can lead to recurrences. I also wish to incorporate as much exercise into my day as possible so I would like to work from home a lot more so that I’m not losing commuting time in my day (ideally working from home all the time unless there are important meetings being held in person in offices and then I would attend them) and my job can actually be done better at home (we use Microsoft Teams for meetings and my line manager is not based in the same office nor city as me) as we are a national organisation with colleagues in different offices around the UK.

If I’m at home I can go for more walks, incorporate more exercise into my day and continue to have very healthy lunches. However, the message from our Chief Executive is to spend half our time in the office.

Before my return to work call I’m looking for advice please in terms of what is reasonable for me to request. Before my operation work was very busy and still is for the team but for my health ideally I don’t wish to have lots of unreasonable demands placed on me that raises my stress levels but I realise that’s easier said than done.

I know with having my cancer diagnosis I am now classed as disabled and this will give me more rights and I’m not in any way wishing to take the micky out of my organisation. I really wish to simply put my health first and am looking at what are reasonable adaptations that work can make for me.

I am based in England in the UK. I mention this as I know employment law is different around the world.

Thank you for any help and advice.

[Marie101]

Hi Sarah Ba,

I returned to full time work in a school after 8 months off after surgery and 6 months of chemo. I'll have been back for a year next month. I did have a reoccurrence however carried on working while having more treatment.

I had a review by phone with our occupational health service and they were great and made recommendations to support my needs. I definitely recommend that you request that.

Good luck and take care xx

[SarahBa in reply to Marie101]

Thank you for your reply.

When you say 'our occupational health service' who do you mean please? Is that connected to your workplace? Or perhaps it's part of the NHS? xx

[Marie101 in reply to SarahBa]

It's linked to my workplace, maybe worth speaking to your HR xx

[Tillymint61]

A 'phased return' would definitely be something to request building up over 6 months to your full time hours. Working from home should not be questioned as covid is still out there and you, whilst not classed as clinically vulnerable anymore would not be wanting to put yourself at risk. If your job has parts of it that are stressful and clearly defined you should request that you do not for a set period undertake those duties. If it is a 'generally' stressful job then would a move to a less stressful part of the business be possible.

As I understand it, our diagnosis does not deem us legally disabled for the remainder of our working lives and therefore changes that an employer puts in place to enable us to return to work are always on a 'to be reviewed ' basis.

Ask for everything you think you need from the start. Easier to compromise down than trying to add additional variations after. Dealing with stress yourself in whatever way you do may need doubling up on your return. Good Luck. X

[SarahBa in reply to Tillymint61]

Thank you for your reply and really good to hear that from an objective point of view. Lots of things for me to think about there.

On your point regarding our diagnosis I do believe we are classed as disabled as the following is taken from the Cancer Research UK website:

What does the Equality Act mean for people with cancer?

The Equality Act considers a diagnosis of cancer as a disability. You don’t have to have symptoms or consider yourself disabled by your cancer to be covered. But the Act gives you important rights.

Your work

These rights mean that you can negotiate for reasonable changes in your work or workplace. The term reasonable means that any changes or adaptations must be practical for your employer, in terms of cost and effects on other workers.

For example, if you need time off work for treatment and recovery your employer might allow you a period of leave and your job will still be there when you want to go back. Or it might be reasonable to have more flexible working hours so you can carry on working. And the Act also gives you legal protection if you feel your employer has treated you unfairly.

cancerresearchuk.org/about-....

[Tillymint61 in reply to SarahBa]

Thanks for clearing that up. Reading the article seems like nothing is written in stone and it is a case of both sides being reasonable adjustments that are requested. Sadly it looks like the luck of the draw with how compassionate and adaptable the employer is.

[Litchick]

You have had some good advice already but two things occur to me. You are still not well, this meeting itself is causing you some anxiety so wonder if you are a member of a professional body or trade union you could access some advice/support there. It sounds like you have already done some research into your statutory rights but checking the details of your your employers policies may be useful too, especially about occupational health assessments by independent advisors.

Our health, as we all have learnt, is precious so you are absolutely right to do all you can to protect it.

Hope it all goes well and your employer is understanding of your circumstances and respond positively.

Jan. x

[SarahBa in reply to Litchick]

Hi Jan, thank you very much for your reply.

I am a member of a trade union (Unite) however I wonder if Macmillan would be better placed to give me advice (due to them specialising in cancer and your rights rather than my union but no harm in me contacting them both).

I should add I believe my employer (public sector) will be understanding and to date my line manager has been but I don't want to feel like I'm having special treatment but simply what I am entitled to due to my diagnosis.

During my hysterectomy they also removed lymph nodes as they wished to check if they were cancerous (thankfully all clear) but due to having some lymph nodes removed I have been informed there is the small risk of lymphoedema. To minimise the risk of lymphoedema it is important to incorporate as much exercise as possible into my day hence why I would wish to work from home permanently so I'm not just sat at my desk all day (apart from attending the office only when safe to do so when the risk of Covid eventually goes away which I realise may be approximately two years away, who knows).

You've also mentioned about the occupational health assessments too as well as an earlier reply. Could you tell me a little more about these assessments please? Who would I contact? Sounds like I need to have a good look to see what our policies at work say x

[Litchick in reply to SarahBa]

Hi Sarah, I think you are right that Macmillan and Ovacome will be better able to give you advice on occupational health assessment which often form part of a return to work plan.Good wishes and take care.

Jan. xx

[organicinna]

Hi dear. My work wasn't demanding before OC, but I waited 3 month after last chemo then back to work very part time. And all at work been looking after me nicely . But 3 month into working I picked up Codid19, but not from work , i think my daughter gave to it me ( we live together) Then they said i recurred and put me on Caelyx, which is tolerable enough to go back to work. So am now not working that week when I had chemo and going to work for 3 weeks after. I don't have to work, i got all benefits available in the UK but i want to go and fell normal as possible even for short time there, and to have a focus. I wish you all the best but listen to you body, you are main priority now

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Hi SarahBa

Thank you for your post. I can see you’ve had some supportive replies from the forum community so just wanted to share this Ovacome resource with you that I hope may be helpful: ovacome.org.uk/going-back-t... – We can also send this to you in the post if you prefer.

In addition, our friends at Macmillan have a work support service for anyone affected by cancer who is employed or self-employed. Their workplace advisors can help you to understand rights at work and offer guidance on how to talk to your employer about adjustments at work. For more details about this service and how to access it, please visit: macmillan.org.uk/cancer-inf... .

I hope your return to work call goes smoothly. If you would like to talk through anything with a member of the Ovacome support team, we are here for you. Please don’t hesitate to call our support line on 0800 008 7054. We’re here Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm.

Best wishes

Annie – Ovacome support

[Catfeeder]

Hi SaraBa, how has going back to work for you? My boss let me do the hours I wanted and to build up gradually and I enjoyed having the distraction of work tbh, althoughj I am mostly wfh now anyway so didnt have that challenger. I've been ready Dr Greger, How Not to Diet, and learning some amazing things about our bodies and nutrition. I've lost over a stone so far of the 1.5 stone I gained with steroids during my Carboplatin chemo. Take care x

[SarahBa]

Hi Catfeeder, lovely to hear from you. Last week was my first week back in work and this was wfh and it went well. I started with half days last week and this week will be built up a bit more and then a bit more the week after. In week 4 I will be back to normal hours.

It won’t be a problem me wfh from now until December as my oncologist said I would be immunocompromised until then however I would like to continue to wfh as I can easily do my job at home as opposed to the 50% expectation they have. Hopefully I will be able to continue to wfh most of the time but I’m not sure.

Thank you for mentioning that book as I will check it out as I’m also wishing to remain slim (less fat on our body should mean lower amounts of oestrogen being produced) as I really am trying to keep my oestrogen levels as low as possible naturally. Take care x