You might worry about telling your employer about the cancer or treatment. You may be afraid that they will not support you. Or you may worry they will dismiss you or make you redundant.

You do not have to tell your employer you have cancer or are having cancer treatment. But it may help.

Many people find that their employers are supportive. If this is not your experience, this page has more information about resolving problems at work. 

It is important to know about your rights at work when talking to your employer. We have information about telling a new employer about a cancer diagnosis when looking for a new job.

Who to talk to

We use the words ‘manager’ or ‘employer’, but different people at your work may be involved. You may want to talk to:

• your manager
• a human resources (HR) manager
• an occupational health adviser
• your trade union representative.

Your manager is often the first person you talk to. If you feel you are not being supported by your manager, you could try contacting someone else on this list.

If you do not want anyone else to know, ask the person you speak with to keep the information confidential. This means they will not tell anyone what you have told them.

What you can do

Have a meeting with your employer

If you feel nervous about talking to your manager, you can ask to meet in a private place. You can request they give you plenty of time for the meeting.

You can ask your manager in advance if you can bring someone with you. This could be a reasonable adjustment if the cancer or treatment has caused problems with communication or anxiety.

You could bring a friend, family member or colleague. In more formal meetings, you may be able to take a trade union representative if you are a member.

Questions to think about

It may help to write a list of questions or things you would like to talk about. This could include:

• letting your manager know who at work you have decided to tell about your situation and what you want to tell them
• talking about whether you would like someone else to tell others
• discussing any changes that might help you keep working
• asking for information about your employer’s policies on sick pay, absence from work, occupational health, pensions and any other policies that may be helpful
• finding out about any support for people in stressful situations – for example, an employee assistance programme (EAP) that offers counselling
• asking if your manager would like information about your treatment to help them
• asking if your manager would like information for employers supporting someone with cancer at work.

During the meeting

At the meeting, your manager may ask how you are coping and what your immediate work concerns are. They may also take notes. You can ask to have a copy of these. The notes should not be shared with anyone else without your permission.

It may be helpful to write your own notes. They can help you remember what was said and can be useful if anything unexpected comes up later.

You can ask in advance if your manager would be happy for you to record the meeting. This may be a reasonable adjustment if you have memory problems or problems writing. Everyone at the meeting would have to agree to this.

Ask for support to keep working

Tell your manager if you want to keep working. They can then support you. If you cannot keep working as usual, they can:

• consider making changes to help you
• give you the time off you need.

You may not know what to expect until you start treatment. This can make it hard to decide how much work you will be able to do. Let your manager know that things may change during treatment. This means they will understand you may need to change work plans later.

Ask for regular meetings with your manager. You can keep them updated and talk about any changes.

Keeping in touch

If you are going to be off work for a while, you may want to talk to your employer about how you want to keep in touch. You can review this with your manager as things may change over time.

You may also decide you want to keep in touch with certain colleagues by phone or email.

Sometimes, employers have policies in place advising how staff would like to be contacted when they are not at work. Take some time to discuss this with your manager and see what adjustments could be made if this does not feel right for you.

Ask your doctor for a fit note

If you are off sick for more than 7 days, you will need a fit note to cover your illness. This is also called a sick note or a Statement of Fitness for Work. This explains how your health affects what you can do at work. You will need a fit note to get sick pay and to claim benefits.

A fit note includes information about how your condition affects your ability to work. This helps your employer understand how they might help you keep working or return to work.

GOV.UK has more information about fit notes. For further information - click here