Abstract
The aim of the present study was to survey human resources personnel about how their northeastern Ontario workplaces assist employees with cancer. This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2007 to April 2008. Surveys were sent to 255 workplaces in northeastern Ontario with 25 or more employees, and 101 workplaces responded (39.6% response rate). Logistic regression modelling was used to identify factors associated with more or less workplace support. More or less workplace support was defined by provision of paid time to employees with medical appointments and an offer of a return-to-work meeting and reduced hours for employees with cancer. Factors considered in the model included organization size, geographic location (urban, rural), and workplace type (private sector, public sector). Most of the human resources staff who completed the surveys were women (67.4%), and respondents ranged in age from 25 to 70 years (mean: 45.30 +/- 8.10 years). Respondents reported working for organizations that ranged in size from 25 to more than 9000 employees. In the logistic regression model, large organization size [odds ratio (or): 6.97; 95% confidence interval (ci): 1.34 to 36.2] and public sector (or: 4.98; 95% ci: 1.16 to 21.3) were associated with employer assistance. Public sector employers provided assistance at a rate 5 times that of private sector employers, and large organizations (>50 employees) provided assistance at a rate 7 times that of smaller organizations. In the population studied, employees with cancer benefit from working in larger and public sector organizations. The data suggest a need for further support for employees with cancer in some other organizations.
Highlights
Cancer has a substantial effect on health status, depression, and overall quality of life [1,2,3,4,5]
The data suggest a need for further support for employees with cancer in some other organizations
15.8% of respondents indicated that they were reporting for a public sector workplace; 6.93% classified their workplace as “Other.” Table i provides details the characteristics of the respondents and the workplaces
Summary
Cancer has a substantial effect on health status, depression, and overall quality of life [1,2,3,4,5]. As early detection and more effective interventions emerge, the prevalence of cancer survivors in the population continues to increase 6. Cancer is an issue for the individuals and their families, and an important issue for employers and the workplace 7. Therapeutic approaches have increased cancer survivorship, and the ability of affected people to work during and after treatment. The effect that both diagnosis and treatment have on the ability of cancer survivors to fully engage in paid work is not yet entirely understood 9. Since 2000, two reviews of research related to the workplace and cancer have been published [11,12]. Recent studies have focused on the effects of cancer on employment 11
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