Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How employers can support employees through treatment and recovery

At BDO Canada, support begins the moment an employee shares their diagnosis. “When an employee is going through treatment or managing a diagnosis, we work with them to build a plan so they feel supported throughout the whole process,” says Brooke Schwarz, BDO’s manager of national total rewards. “If they want to work during treatment or wait until it has concluded, we collaborate across [human resources] and leadership — with the support of our disability management provider — to make sure their choice is respected and they’re supported from all aspects.”

Read: What does return to work look like for cancer patients?

Income protection is a key component of that support. BDO’s short-term disability program provides up to 17 weeks of salary continuance if an employee can’t work due to illness or injury. If more time is needed, they can transition to long-term disability, which allows them to focus on recovery without worrying about financial stability. According to the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network, about one in three working-age Canadians with cancer experience financial hardship linked to lost income and out-of-pocket costs.

Planning for the return to work starts before an employee comes back. “We set up time to talk with the employee and their people leader before they return so expectations and questions or concerns are discussed in advance,” says Schwarz. “That might mean a gradual return-to-work schedule, workload modifications or equipment to help them do their job more comfortably. The goal is that when they walk back in, everyone knows what support looks like.”

According to the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, about 60 per cent of survivors return to work within a year of diagnosis, often with the help of modified duties or flexible arrangements to make the transition sustainable.

Read: 77% of U.K. employees with cancer say their benefits didn’t meet their needs: surve

In addition to planning and return-to-work support, BDO provides access to virtual health care and employee and family assistance programs, giving employees ongoing counselling and health resources throughout treatment and recovery. Together, income protection, flexible return-to-work pathways and mental-health supports reduce uncertainty for employees facing breast cancer and show how benefits and policies can shape a workplace culture where people can focus on recovery while staying connected to their careers.