Working with Prostate Cancer

Hi WATP (Diane )

My name is Linda and I am a Work Support Adviser on our National Support Line. I can advise on a person’s  Rights at Work when affected by Cancer.

I am sorry to hear that your husband is suffering from fatigue following his treatment for Prostate Cancer.

 As your husband has a cancer diagnosis he is considered to have a disability under the Equality Act 2010 or Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Northern Ireland). This means his employer should not discriminate against him because of his cancer. His employer is also under a duty to make reasonable adjustments to help him at work. This protection is lifelong and does not depend on an active cancer diagnosis.

Reasonable adjustments remove or minimise disadvantages experienced by disabled people. Employers must make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people are not disadvantaged in the workplace. They should also make sure policies and practices do not put disabled people at a disadvantage. An example of a reasonable adjustment could be amended duties or lighter duties, reduced working hours or more regular rest breaks to help combat the fatigue.

Your husband can ask his Employer for a referral to Occupational Health for a medical assessment. They would be able to produce a medical report and make recommendations for reasonable adjustments to be put in place to support him.

He can request a reasonable adjustment in the workplace, providing he can relate it back to his cancer. His employer has a duty to consider all reasonable adjustments and a failure to do so could suggest disability discrimination. If his employer rejects a reasonable adjustment request they need to be able to demonstrate why it is “unreasonable” for them to accommodate or it could suggest that he is being treated less favourably as a disabled person. That

In order to be protected from direct discrimination or to ask for reasonable adjustments at work your employer should be aware of your cancer diagnosis.

I have included a link to our booklet Your Rights At Work which explains these right in greater detail. 

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/stories-and-media/booklets/your-rights-at-work-when-you-are-affected-by-cancer

We have a team of Financial Guides here at Macmillan Cancer Support who can provide guidance on all aspects of personal finance including Pensions and Mortgages. I think it would be helpful to get in touch with them. They are available on our Support Line number 0808 808 0000 ( option 1, option 2, option 1 ) Monday – Friday 8am -6pm. You can also contact them on this link also Financial Guidance | Macmillan Cancer Support

If you have any financial worries it may be useful to have a full Benefit Check ( if not already done so) to check if there any foms of financial support you may be eligible for under the circumstances. Our Welfare Rights Team could complete an accurate financial assessment for you. They are also available on 0808 808 0000 ( option 1, option 2, option 2 ) Monday – Friday 8am -8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am – 5pm . There is further information in this link Welfare rights advice | Macmillan Cancer Support

I hope this information has been helpful to address your concerns. However, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get back in touch.

Kind Regards

 Linda

Work Support Advisor

Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email

Thank you so much Linda I will definitely get him to speak to his employer.  I will also check the links out.  I really appreciate your help and quick response.  

Diane