Article originally published on November 23, 2021
15% of French workers suffer from a long-term illness (ALD). A figure set to increase by 10%, to affect a quarter of workers, by 2025, according to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese). Modern lifestyles and advances in medicine are two factors explaining this increase in the proportion of sick people in the working population. Yet not all companies have measured the effects of this change. Even fewer have implemented an action plan to support their employees suffering from chronic pathologies and adapt their organization accordingly. The result: less absenteeism… and therefore, ultimately, less financial loss. Association Cancer@Work, founded in 2012, unites companies around the employment of cancer patients and guides their managers in this direction.
Free speech in business
“We must put an end to the Manichean vision that when we work we are doing well because, otherwise, we are on sick leave” , launches Anne-Sophie Tuszynski. The founder of Cancer @ Work was on the board of the Dutch interim specialist Randstad when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2011. While her treatments led her to “Get away from your missions for a year” , she immediately adopted “A very free tone on this subject” vis-à-vis the company and its customers. While doing some research, she realizes that recommendations for executives are rare and decides to dedicate an employers’ club to the subject. This now brings together around a hundred companies – from the tertiary sector, but also from industry and agriculture.
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First observation of the association: it is necessary to raise awareness at the level of the company. “In 2013, 80% of working people said they could not pronounce the word ‘cancer’ at work. This remains one in two employees, in 2021, notes Anne-Sophie Tuszynski. If patients have no legal obligation to let it be known that they are, saying so makes employers aware that they must demonstrate their commitment to their employees. “ Managers must therefore take better account of the needs of employees, specifically according to the sector of activity. They can promote active listening or even establish emotional profiles – two techniques in psychology. Cancer @ Work has also developed a barometric tool to survey teams. “No company is immune to a sick employee. We cannot escape the statistics ” , thus asserts the founder.
“Work is a pillar of healing”
Calling for a response “Creative” in order to adapt the position of a sick incumbent, Anne-Sophie Tuszynski encourages “Discuss the terms of maintaining the link with the employee without delay as soon as the latter reports his illness”. It should be remembered that for many people “Work is a pillar of healing, even part-time”. Calling on an ergonomist or occupational medicine can then be useful. The production rate or the repetitiveness of the gestures are two factors to be questioned when the patient is tired. A temporary reclassification is, however, possible: “We can switch an employee to a more administrative function, the time he returns to his post. And, if we are already capped at this level internally, we can consider sponsorship of skills to support other structures ” , illustrates the founder of the Cancer @ Work association, insisting on the fact that “Especially not to give the impression to the employee to be put in the closet”.
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As everyone experiences their illness differently, one of the mistakes to avoid is to “Apply a single recipe to all cases”. According to Anne-Sophie Tuszynski, such a course of action comes down to “Destroy value within the company”. Solutions must come from the field on a case-by-case basis. And more particularly employees who are in direct contact with the employee concerned. “They are the ones who have the keys to the organization, notes the founder, who pushes employers to pay attention to them. The entire team can be weakened after such an announcement. Leaders can unintentionally create collective distress by not replacing the job or failing to address the concern. “ Cancer @ Work has established “A platform of solutions” in order to allow employers to find the support they need.
Reduce the costs induced by absenteeism
The return to work of an employee does not mean, however, that the disease is behind him. “For my part, ten years later, I still have difficulty concentrating, I have bouts of fatigue and my arm is sensitive., testifies Anne-Sophie Tuszynski, who has been recognized as a disabled worker. Here too, it is a matter of realizing that a link exists between illness and disability. “ And therefore, when you are a leader, think your long-term organization accordingly. This does not mean, contrary to popular belief, that the performance of the company will decline. “Absenteeism at work is a scourge, costing 108 billion euros per year. By adapting the pace, companies and employees alike have everything to gain ” , assures the founder. Thus, of the 1,200 people diagnosed with cancer every day in France, 400 continue to work in the months that follow.
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Enough to maintain a certain balance in the health system, according to Anne-Sophie Tuszynski: “If we banish people who are sick, the health system is shut down. We no longer enter part of the contributions, but the figures should alert when we know that a quarter of the working population will suffer from ALD in a few years. “ Armed arm of the association, WeCare @ Work is the startup founded by Anne-Sophie Tuszynski in 2019 to provide advice on quality of life at work (QWL) to managers. This last table on the “Experiential knowledge” of its employees, many of whom have been or are ill. With the aim of finally building bridges between health and work, “Two worlds which, by not speaking to each other, lead to the isolation of patients” to believe the neo-entrepreneur.
Find the other articles in the dossier devoted to cancer:
- How algorithms help stem cancer
- What BioTechs prepare to replace chemotherapy
- Transgene’s vaccine educates the system to respond to cancer cells
- 15 solutions to improve the daily life of people with cancer
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