Managing work and treatment

Learn more about:

• Flexible arrangements
• Leave

Flexible arrangements

• If possible, take a few hours off instead of the whole day. 
• Try to schedule treatment sessions so you have more recovery time (e.g. late in the day or before your days off).
• Explore working from home. Not having to commute may help you feel less tired. 
• Let co-workers know about changes to your work hours. 
• Write down the plan you and your employer have agreed on, and then both sign it. 
• If you feel overwhelmed, don’t let your performance suffer too much before re-assessing your work arrangements. 
• Look for tools to help you work remotely, e.g. using a smartphone to get your emails, copying files to the cloud, or working on a laptop.

Leave

• If you are a new employee, ask your manager or human resources department if there is a waiting (qualifying) period for paid personal leave. 
• Check with your employer if you can “cash out” your annual leave and any conditions that apply. Some awards and agreements don’t allow this. 
• Give as much notice as possible before taking leave. 
• Combine personal leave with annual leave and long service leave, if necessary. 
• If you don’t have enough paid leave, ask your manager if you can take unpaid time off. 
• Know your rights. It is generally against the law to dismiss someone for taking leave for illness. 
• If you believe your employer isn’t giving you the correct amount of leave, check your entitlements. Contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.