It’s the day you’ve been waiting for... well, you may have been waiting for Publisher’s Clearing House to knock, but if that hasn’t happened, you are ready to go back to work. It’s an affirmation that your life is returning to some sense of normalcy. You’ve paid your dues, done your surgery or chemo or radiation, or some combination thereof, and it’s time to re-enter the workforce.
Some of you will have been able to take ample time off to weather the onslaught of treatments and even do a bit of healing, both emotionally and physically. Others may not have that luxury and can only take the necessary time off to get through the worst parts of treatment. Regardless of which scenario speaks to your situation, going back to work will have rewards and challenges and no matter how you approach this new normal, it’s safe to say your life has changed in a myriad of ways.
For most of us, work reminds us that we have a life that is separate from our diagnosis. You may be a valued employee, or a great boss, or a co-worker everyone knows they can depend upon. As much as most of us groan when the alarm clock buzzes bright and early, going to work provides both a sense of purpose and a setting where it’s possible to forget about cancer for several hours each day.
Testing the waters. So, are you ready to take the plunge? Depending upon how much time you’ve been away from your normal work schedule, this may be as easy as remembering how to ride a bike or as complicated as trying to ride a bike with flippers and a blindfold on. What can you do to prepare?
- Do you feel physically and psychologically ready? If you are still feeling pretty puny in either capacity, it might be a good idea to get some counseling from a therapist or social worker, or see if there is a support group in your area that is dedicated to helping people transition back into the workplace.
- Are you ready to get back to work? If so, do you think you can work a full day or would part-time be a better option? Will your workplace allow you to have a flexible schedule? Are you still undergoing any treatments or are you done? Do you feel stronger early in the day or later? Ask yourself these questions because they will also factor into your decision.
- How are your skills? Are there any areas that could use some brushing up? If you feel you might need a bit of refreshing, or simply want to wow them with a new skillset, this is a great time to add extra knowledge. One fantastic online source is Lynda.com. It offers a wide variety of online courses you can take at your own speed at a very reasonable price.
- If there are industry events and/or seminars taking place that you can attend, go for it. Part of re-entering the workforce at full-force has to do with confidence. Anything you can do to regain your feeling of well-being in the workplace is a good thing.
You didn't plan to get sick, but you can make a plan to get better!
Getting sick pulls the rug out from under us. Plans and goals often take a backseat to the hurdles faced by simply working to save your life. When you’ve done what you can to get better and know you are ready to head back to work, you have the opportunity once again to make a plan. You’ve learned you can’t control some things, but this is one area where you do have just a bit, so use it.
What schedule can you live with? Be realistic. Talk candidly to your employer about your desire to come back to work and your need to do it sensibly. You will want to be sensitive to your employer’s needs as well, but the time to talk about these issues is before you are back in your office.
Has your surgery or treatment necessitated the need for any changes in your work station? Do you need more back support? More breaks? Less lifting? What will help you to be comfortable as well as productive? Again, this is the time to set these sorts of changes in motion. Employers must reasonably accommodate an employee in areas that include:
- Providing or modifying equipment or devices;
- Restructuring a job;
- Offering part-time or modified work schedules;
- Reassigning an employee to a vacant position;
- Adjusting or modifying tests, training materials, or policies;
- Providing readers and/or interpreters;
- Making the workplace readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities.
Many survivors have the sense they want to do something bigger, loftier, more meaningful, more altruistic than what they were doing pre-breast cancer. Some succeed. Most go back to their former lives and work situations. There is nothing wrong with this. Do you want to start a non-profit or breast cancer-related business? Go for it! Just remember that sometimes you simply have to focus on the work you have, even if that means performing tedious tasks, or a job that doesn’t feel like it makes a difference. Any job helps to make you feel that you’ve transitioned from being a patient to being an employee – and that’s an important first step. The rest will come in time if that is your heart’s desire!
What will you share with your coworkers? Perhaps everyone at work already knows the entire story, but that’s unlikely. Although cancer is talked about much more openly in today’s world, you may have held your cards close to your vest in terms of divulging information about your diagnosis and prognosis. Much depends upon your work environment, but in many cases for women employed in highly competitive, fast-paced endeavors, sharing intimate details may not be the best tactic.
You shouldn’t feel pressured to share or explain details. You alone are the arbiter of what feels comfortable. Just remember that you work with humans beings (or one can hope), who are by nature curious. Not only curious, but many seem to think if no one is filling them in, that means things are dire. A great remedy for this is to smile and say you are fine when people ask. You will notice that many inquire with a tone that sounds like they are expecting bad news. Surprise them! You certainly don’t have to be jolly, especially if you weren’t before taking a leave, but you can be upbeat.
The best rule of thumb is to be yourself. If you are naturally outgoing, you’ve probably already told a lot of people what’s up. If you are on the quiet side, it’s likely this is the approach you have taken. There is no right or wrong way to jump back in, you just want to be sure you are paying attention to your comfort level.
You may notice that some co-workers react differently to you when you go back to work. Let’s just cut to the chase. Some people simply aren’t comfortable thinking about their own mortality. So, when someone they know gets cancer it scares them. It’s that simple. They don’t want to react differently, but they can’t help themselves. Seeing you reminds them that anyone can get sick.
Other co-workers may react in less than positive ways because they had to take on extra responsibilities in your absence. And believe it or not, a few folks will be a bit upset because of the time you’ve had off. If you are lucky, these are people you won’t have to have much contact with, but most offices have their share.
It’s common for people to have lots of questions about your cancer and what treatment you received. You may feel comfortable sharing this with one or two close friends at work, but sharing the same details over and over is not only exhausting, it keeps you stuck in where you’ve been, not where you are hoping to go. You can feel free to tell people to go to the American Cancer Society’s website to find information.
If you have topics that are too sensitive to discuss, you need to feel empowered enough not to. If someone is questioning your treatment and it annoys you, that’s okay. Just tell them you’d rather not discuss it. If well-meaning people make comments about their religious beliefs that don’t jive with your personal views, again, it’s okay to change the subject. These types of conversations are apt to occur, so thinking ahead of time about a response that is comfortable for you that will end the conversation on a good note, is a great way to be proactive rather than reactive. It can be something as simple as “You know, I’ve pretty much talked about nothing but cancer for the past six months, I’m sure there must be something more interesting we can discuss – like who’s bringing cupcakes to work tomorrow!” (Or George Clooney, or world peace – you get the idea.)
Fair treatment needs to be part of the treatment
It is illegal to use your history of cancer against you in the workplace. Sadly, this does occur and it can often be hard to pinpoint or prove. What are some signs that you may have a problem? One indicator would be something like having a less qualified co-worker receive a promotion for which you are clearly qualified. Even something as seemingly innocuous as disparaging comments can be a big red flag. Are tasks you can perform competently being given to someone else? Are you being given assignments or tasks that don’t challenge your abilities?
If you feel you are being discriminated against in your work setting you need to follow some very clear guidelines:
- Report the incident. Before beginning legal action discuss the situation with your employer and the human resources department. It is always best to try to resolve a problem without having to take legal action.
- If your employer does not remedy the situation, seek the advice of a legal expert to identify whether the incident can be classified as an act of discrimination.
- See if your local support group or doctor has resources available. If someone else in your community has faced a similar situation they can be a good sounding board for you.
- Perhaps most important, be sure to keep a detailed, descriptive record of all instances where you feel discrimination has occurred. You will want to include dates, times, locations, people involved and actions taken.
The law requires your complaint be sent to a local EEOC office within 180 days of the incident. The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 states that each time a person is affected by a discriminatory pay decision or action, including when the decision or action begins and each time the person is paid, counts as an act of discrimination.
Hopefully you will not face these sorts of issues, but if the playing field has changed, it’s a good idea for you to know your rights.
Thinking about moving on?
Unless you’ve been living on Mars (and sometimes chemo can make you feel that way) you probably know that the job market is in bad shape at the moment. But heck, you’ve faced breast cancer and are here to tell the tale – so if you feel the desire to find a new job (or if you you’ve lost your job, or your company went out of business, or has downsized) – a little thing like a double dip recession shouldn’t get in your way. Just ask yourself:
Which of my skills and interests from my previous jobs will transfer over to a new position or field?
Am I going to need additional education or training? And if so, can I afford to go to school to gain those new skills, especially if it prevents me from earning a paycheck? Do I qualify for any programs where I could obtain the training?
Are companies hiring people in my position or in my new chosen field?
Am I willing to take a lower-level position, if it is necessary?
Can I handle what may be a stressful career change right now, after having just dealt with the physical and emotional effects of cancer?
If you do your homework, your chances of finding work are much improved.
Regardless of whether you are going back to your previous job, looking for a new career, finding a way to save the world, or simply starting to think about the process, keep this in mind: What you bring to the table in terms of endurance, grace and wisdom is light years ahead of where it was before your diagnosis.
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