Valerie Bolden-Barrett* says chronic illness can be a sensitive topic in the workplace, but most workers want managers to do more to support ill co-workers.
Eighty-eight per cent of workers in a national survey by Cancer and Careers said they have concerns about their ability to support a co-worker with serious and/or chronic health condition.
The non-profit also found 89 per cent of workers said managers could have been more supportive of co-workers experiencing serious health issues.
Among respondents who said they had concerns about their ability to provide care, their most common concerns were: what kind of emotional support and how much to offer (69 per cent); how much they should ask about their co-worker’s medical condition or status (59 per cent); and what type of work-related assistance to offer (51 per cent).
“Leadership plays a crucial role in defining company culture and values,” Kathy M. Flora, a career coach with Cancer and Careers, said in a statement.
“When 89 per cent of workers say that management could have done more to be supportive of their co-workers with serious medical conditions, whether that’s providing more workplace accommodations or creating more inclusion and engagement opportunities, it’s clear a significant shift is necessary at the top levels of organisations.”
Chronic illnesses can be a sensitive topic in the workplace for a variety of reasons, and this is reflected in the responses gathered by Cancer and Careers.
A 2018 survey of cancer patients and survivors by the non-profit showed employees with these designations were unlikely to disclose their illness to their HR department.
But respondents in the same survey also recognised the value of having supportive employers: 79 per cent agreed that patients and survivors whose employees support them are more likely to thrive at work.
Employers who show empathy and sensitivity toward their workers are not only demonstrating their sense of ethics, they’re also potentially boosting their retention rates.
An October 2019 report by employee experience platform Limeade’s Institute found that 60 per cent of workers who said they felt cared for intended to stay with their current employer for three or more years.
Caring for employees may also benefit employers in the recruiting process.
For example, 90 per cent of workers in the Limeade Institute report who said they “felt cared for” were likely to recommend their organisation as an exceptional place to work, compared with just 9 per cent of the workers who said they didn’t feel cared for.
Caregiving is a consistent sticking point for employees who either have a chronic illness themselves or who have relatives with chronic illnesses for whom they must provide care.
A 2019 study published in Health Affairs found that the cost of unpaid caregiving could double by 2050.
Employers can improve the experience of caregivers within their workforces by providing tools, upping flexibility benefits and structure communications that specifically address caregiver concerns.
* Valerie Bolden-Barrett is a business writer and content specialist and contributor to HR Dive.
This article first appeared at www.hrdive.com/news
