Returning to employment following a diagnosis of cancer: An Irish survey

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RETURNING TO EMPLOYMENT
FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS OF
CANCER: AN IRISH SURVEY
DATE
16th February 2021
AUTHOR
Sheelah Connolly, Helen
Russell, Edward Henry

2 18 February 2021
Background
• Previous research suggests that not all people
of working age diagnosed with cancer can and
do return to work
• While for some this is a personal decision, for
others, personal or work-related factors can act
as a barrier to returning to work

3 18 February 2021
Aim of research
To explore the experience of returning to
employment following a diagnosis of cancer in
Ireland

4 18 February 2021
Methods
• ESRI/ICS developed “Returning to Work”
questionnaire
• Open to those
• In formal employment at diagnosis
• Diagnosed 2010-2020
• Aged <65 at time of diagnosis

5 18 February 2021
Questionnaire
Questionnaire included questions on
• Working status
• Impact of diagnosis on career prospects
• Support from employer
• Reasons for returning to employment
• Barriers and facilitators to returning to
employment
• Health status
• Demographic and socio-economic status

6 18 February 2021
Questionnaire respondents
• 377 unique responses to the online
questionnaire
• Data were weighted to address the low
response rate from some group
• Not all respondents were asked all questions
• Not all respondents answered all questions

7 18 February 2021
Profile of respondents – sex and age-
group
Characteristic Percentage
Sex
Male 35%
Female 65%
Age-group
<35 4%
35-44 28%
45-54 26%
55-64 36%
65+ 6%

8 18 February 2021
Profile of respondents – site, stage of cancer
Site of cancer
Breast 17%
Colorectal 7%
Cervix 24%
Prostate 9%
Lymphoma 3%
Skin 6%
Lung 5%
Ovary 1%
Other 28%
Stage of cancer
0 2%
1 30%
2 20%
3 20%
4 10%
Don’t know 18%

9 18 February 2021
Profile of respondents – current health issues
Current health issues Percentage
Tiredness 86%
Insomnia/disturbed sleep 71%
Anxiety 66%
Difficulty remembering things 62%
Pain 56%
Bowel problems 44%
Shortness of breath 35%
Nausea 22%
Lack of appetite 20%
Behavioural problems 20%
Problem passing urine 19%

10 18 February 2021
Profile of respondents – employment
characteristics
Employment status
Employee 86%
Self-employed 13%
On state training/employment scheme 1%
Employment sector
Public sector 37%
Semi-state sector 2%
The not-for-profit sector 4%
Private sector 57%

11 18 February 2021
Profile of respondents – current
employment situation (n=373)
Returned to same
employment
77%
Did not take time off
7%
Returned to different
employment
2%
Not yet returned
14%

12 18 February 2021
Impact of cancer diagnosis on career
prospects
• Impact of cancer diagnosis on career
prospects (n=375)
• No impact - 51%
• Negative impact - 47%
• Positive impact - 3%

13 18 February 2021
Impact of cancer diagnosis on career prospects
• Differences observed across groups in % reporting negative impact
• Sex: Female (53%); males (35%)
• Age group: <35 (69%); 55-64 (33%)
• Employment status: Employee (44%); self-employed (61%)
• Sector: Public (59%); Private (39%)
• Length of leave also important: For those reporting a negative impact
– average length of leave was 51 weeks relative to 32 weeks for those
that did not report a negative impact

14 18 February 2021
Impact of cancer diagnosis on career prospects
• The observed difference between males and
females were largely explained by the fact that
a larger proportion of women work in the public
sector and have longer length of leave relative
to males

15 18 February 2021
Reported appropriateness of length of leave
(n=319)
Shorter than wanted
38%
Longer than wanted
9%
What wanted
53%

16 18 February 2021
Main reason for returning to employment (n=319
for all; n=103 for “Leave too short”)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Finanical
need
To regain a
sense of
normality
Felt able to
work
Work is
important to
me
To maintain
career
Illness
benefit
ended
Pressure
from
employer
Other
Percentage
of
respondents
All Leave too short

17 18 February 2021
Level of support offered by organisation/manager
(n=299/290)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Very supportive Supportive Neither supportive
nor unsupportive
Unsupportive Very unsupportive
Percentage
of
respondents
Organisation Manager

18 18 February 2021
Level of support offered by organisation/manager
• Differences observed across groups
• Organisation support – higher proportion reporting
unsupportive/very unsupportive organisation among
public sector respondents and those in small
organisations
• Managerial support - higher proportion reporting
unsupportive/very unsupportive manager among
males, public sector respondents

19 18 February 2021
Factors which facilitated return (n=312)
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
Phased return to full time work
Help and support from colleagues
Help and support from employer/manager
Time off for medical appointments
Flexible start and finish time
Part time
Change in work tasks
Working from home
Access to unpaid leave
Change in work environment
Percentage of respondents

20 18 February 2021
Factors which acted as a barrier to return (n=139)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Physical health issues
Psychological health issues
Difficulty in completing job requirements
Unsupportive employer/manager
Inflexible working arrangements
Unsupportive colleagues
Difficulty in getting to work

21 18 February 2021
Experienced negative work-related issue (n=321)
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%
Reduction in salary/bonus
Given unsuitable workload/tasks
Didn’t get deserved promotion
Received unpleasant comments
Unfairly criticised or disciplined
Denied access to training
Made redundant or dismissed
Discouraged from attending medicals appointments
Received pay rise/bonus less than peers
Threatened with redunacy/dismissal
Treated so poorly felt had to leave

22 18 February 2021
Policy and practice implications
• For employer
• Facilitating flexible return
• Avoiding discrimination
• Financial supports
• For Government
• Entitlement to paid leave for appointments
• Development of statutory sick leave pay
• Providing information – employees and
employers

Returning to employment following a diagnosis of cancer: An Irish survey

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Returning to employment following a diagnosis of cancer: An Irish survey