'Clear gaps' | UK workplaces falling short in supporting employees affected by cancer

HR leaders say many managers are ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of cancer and long-term health issues in the workplace.

Working With Cancer's Bevan Report on Improving Employer Support for Those Working With Cancer reveals that 96% of respondents reported that their companies do not have cancer specific policies and only 18% reported collecting data on the number of employees with a cancer diagnosis.

The study was produced in conjunction with the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), gathering the thoughts of more than 200 people working in HR.

Of those surveyed, 78% stated their line managers had not received training on how to support employees living with cancer. 48% of respondents expressed concern about line managers saying the wrong thing, and 31% lacked confidence in the ability of their line managers to have difficult conversations.