Going On With Life Women Juggling Cancer And Career. U.S. Employers Rank Last As Source Of Support For Working Women With Cancer
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Business -> subcategory Careers.
Navigating Life: Women Balancing Cancer and Career
U.S. Employers Lag in Supporting Working Women with Cancer
Summary:
For Shirley Mertz, balancing work with breast cancer over the past 14 years has been both natural and crucial to her well-being.Article:
For Shirley Mertz, continuing her career while battling breast cancer for 14 years was essential for maintaining a sense of normalcy and well-being.
"After my diagnosis, living a normal life was vital, and for me, that meant working," explained Mertz, a former assistant superintendent in suburban Chicago. Now 59, she is dedicated full-time to breast cancer advocacy. "I was lucky to have supportive colleagues and an understanding employer, but I had to seek external resources for support and information. I never really considered workplace resources as an option."
Mertz's story resonates with findings from a national Harris Interactive survey of working women with cancer. Shockingly, only 1 percent of respondents view their company as a source of support or information. Although many women report satisfactory interpersonal support and managing work-life balance, they face treatment-related challenges such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss without assistance from workplace programs. The survey was conducted by the Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation's (CEWF) Cancer and Careers initiative and funded by Roche.
Carlotta Jacobson, President of CEW, emphasizes the need for employers to better support employees with cancer.
"Our survey highlights that, despite their resilience, women with cancer often face significant challenges at work," Jacobson stated. "To address this, we've developed the Cancer and Careers program, offering free resources and guidance for both employees and managers."
Cancer and Careers serves as a comprehensive resource for working women with cancer and their employers, providing an online and offline platform. Their website, www.cancerandcareers.org, offers over 100 articles, downloadable tools, and a database of more than 400 cancer resources. Additionally, CEWF has launched the Managing Through Cancer program to assist managers and HR professionals in implementing supportive policies and flexible work arrangements.
The survey also found that women with cancer need more than workplace support to manage their job-related challenges. Nearly 75% expressed a desire for less intrusive treatments that fit a working woman's lifestyle. Citing convenience and fewer side effects, 86% preferred oral chemotherapy to intravenous methods.
"I took oral chemotherapy, and it meant fewer missed workdays and feeling more like myself," said Mertz. "I also didn't experience hair loss, which helped maintain my self-esteem."
By acknowledging and addressing these needs, workplaces can become more inclusive and supportive environments for women juggling cancer and career.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Going On With Life Women Juggling Cancer And Career. U.S. Employers Rank Last As Source Of Support For Working Women With Cancer.
You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.