How to Tell Your Boss and Coworkers You Have Breast Cancer

The first question you might ask yourself is "Should I inform my boss and coworkers that I have breast cancer?" It can be very difficult to talk about what is going on in your body to people who aren't family. There is no need to tell anyone in the office that you have breast cancer unless your condition and/or your treatment will get in the way of your ability to work, or your work schedule.

Remember, if you choose not to discuss your health at the office, some questions may be raised if there is a change in your normal working abilities or time spent away from the office for treatment appointments. For this reason, it might be best to tell your boss and/or immediate supervisor. You might also want to tell coworkers that you share responsibilities with. For instance, your coworkers might decide you are no longer carrying your share of the workload; therefore, it may be important to inform certain individuals in the workplace, but it wouldn't necessarily be a newsflash for the entire office to be made privy of.

How to break the news in the workplace that you have breast cancer

People in the workplace may react in different ways to your news, so you might want to think about what you will say and how to say it. Your wellbeing is your most important resource, so conduct yourself in a way that feels appropriate for you. Here are some suggestions that might make it easier to break the news, that you have breast cancer, to your coworkers.

Decide where you want to have the conversation with your boss and coworkers. You might want to inform your boss before anyone else knows. Your boss might have some ideas on how to proceed with informing other necessary people in the workplace. After talking with your boss, you might want to decide on a private area in the facility in which you work.

If you want everyone to know, you might just call a short meeting to inform them; however, you may feel that everyone doesn't need to know your personal and private business. Therefore, it might be better to have a conversation with your coworkers in smaller groups. Discussing what is going on with you might be easier if you talk with 1 to 3 people at a time.

Conclusion

Once you have broken the news at the workplace that you have breast cancer, let them know you will keep them posted as the need arises. Permit your boss and coworkers to ask pertinent questions regarding your health status and your ability to work. People are naturally concerned when one of their own faces a major health problem. Oftentimes people in the workplace become just like a family. When one hurts they become concerned and want to help. The best way you can allow your colleagues to help you is to keep the lines of communication open. You will be facing changes in how you feel and how you look. You might start losing your hair, or start feeling the unpleasant effects of treatment.

Let your boss and coworkers know that you will do your best to continue working your job as well as you did before you discovered you have breast cancer. You might also ask for a list of coworkers who would be interested in conducting your duties in case you have to be absent for treatments. In this economy, most people are more than willing to pick up extra shifts, so if there is a list of interested parties available, this will make replacing you in your absence.

Try to ease the burden on boss and coworkers. There may be times when there just isn't enough staffing to cover your shift if you have to be absent. If this is the case, you may suggest that your hours be more flexible to accommodate your healthcare needs and your ability to work different hours. Very often, a boss or supervisor will be more than willing to make accommodations for someone who is dealing with a serious illness.

Source:

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/your_job/boss_coworkers.jsp