Concerns about discrimination

Being discriminated against at work because you have a disability is against the law under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Fair Work Act 2009, as well as state and territory legislation. Cancer is considered a disability under these laws.

Disability discrimination in the workplace may occur in different ways:

Direct discrimination – This is when you are treated less fairly because of your cancer than someone without cancer. For example, an employer denies you a promotion, demotes you to a lower-paid job, refuses to hire you or dismisses you for a reason related to your cancer diagnosis, when they would not have done these things to an employee who does not have cancer.

Indirect discrimination – This is when a policy, rule or practice that seems fair actually disadvantages people who can’t follow it because they have cancer. For example, a requirement for staff to stand while serving customers might indirectly discriminate against you if the cancer prevents you from standing comfortably. The employer may be able to adjust this rule, however, it won’t be unlawful if the rule is reasonable in all the circumstances.

Australian law requires your employer to make changes to accommodate the effects of cancer and help you perform your job (reasonable adjustments). Learn some examples of reasonable changes. Your employer can refuse to make these changes only if they would cause unjustifiable hardship to the business.