Workplace and financial concerns

Learn about your options and find out where to seek legal and financial advice for your specific situation.

Workplace issues

Telling your workplace that you have cancer is your choice and you may choose not to tell your workplace about your diagnosis. However, it can be helpful to talk to your employer if you can’t work or you need some changes to help you continue doing your job or return to work.

You must tell your workplace if your health affects safety or your ability to do your job.

You may be concerned about your leave entitlements, or about being discriminated against, your working hours being changed, or being let go from your job. Some of these issues are dealt with differently depending on your industry and the state or territory you live in. You may need to get specific advice from an employment lawyer who specialises in employment matters.

Some people leave work or stop working soon after they are diagnosed with cancer. If you are thinking of resigning, take your time and perhaps talk to a social worker or counsellor about your concerns.

You may also find it helpful to speak with a financial counsellor to discuss how stopping work could affect your financial situation. To talk to a financial counsellor, visit the National Debt Helpline or call 1800 007 007.

For more on this, see Cancer, work and you or Cancer Council’s Legal and Workplace Support service.

At the time of diagnosis, I was working as an office manager, but afterwards we reassessed our life. I changed jobs and we moved house. I now work in aged care, which I love.

JODIE

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