Workplace absences associated with cancer could be costing UK businesses around £1.6bn this year.
This is according to analysis from specialist cancer support services provider Reframe Cancer who looked into the potential cost to UK businesses in 2024 caused by cancer absence, and how the employee benefits offered by employers may not be enough to meet employee needs.
Their research amongst 500 UK employees with cancer as part of Reframe Cancer’s The Employee Experience report: Living and working with cancer found employees will need time off work at every stage of their cancer journey.
The average employee with cancer will be absent from work for 15 weeks (approximately 75 working days based on full-time employment).
Based on NHS CancerData and a 2020 forecast of 160,000 people of working age receiving a cancer diagnosis each year, and ONS 2023 data indicating an average employee salary of £34,963, this could mean a potential £1.6bn cost to UK businesses, Reframe Cancer found.
In addition to the expected absence for treatment and recovery, the provider also found employees take time off during the early stages before a formal diagnosis is made.
It found the average overall absence in closer detail indicated employees took the following time off:
- Pre-diagnosis worries & symptoms: 12 days off
- Diagnosis & testing: 16 days off
- Treatment: 24 days off
- Recovery: 23 days off
More than half of employees (55%) also only told their employer after their cancer diagnosis has been confirmed, meaning most employees would take 28 days off work before they let their HR team or employer know.
But around 11% waited until they were actually undergoing treatment or when their treatment had finished, meaning many could take up to 52 days off work before telling their employer.
Additionally 18% told their employers while undergoing tests.
The research also reveals that almost half (48%) reported feeling pressure to keep working during their cancer journey.
But an additional consideration for employers is that there are also currently around 700,000 people in work who are caring for someone with cancer, these people will also be taking time off to support them and will further impact absence.
Benefits falling short of expectations
The research found more than three quarters (77%) of employees with cancer did not believe that the employee benefits offered to them while on their cancer journey met all their needs.
Looking at this level of dissatisfaction in more detail:
- 58% are male
- 58% earn less than £30,000 per year
- 54% have worked with their current employer for 4-10 years
But both higher and lower earners said they were dissatisfied.
Almost seven in 10 (68%) of those who earned more than £5,000 per month, said they did not believe their employee benefits meet all their cancer needs.
Lower earners were even more dissatisfied with 90% of those that earned under £1,500 a month stating the same.
Inequality in private healthcare
While many employees felt their employee benefits fell short in some way, the findings also showed a level of inequality in the provision of private healthcare.
The NHS remains the primary source of cancer care for 92% of employees in total, with 62% of respondents stating they receive treatment exclusively through the NHS while 30% of employees received a combination of both NHS and private care.
Just 6% of employees received treatment exclusively through private healthcare.
But the findings indicated a strong gender divide in the provision of private cancer care treatment.
Only 29% of female employees receive private medical treatment compared to over seven in 10 (71%) male employees. This male bias was further evident when considering access to both private and NHS options, with 70% again being male.
The research also showed a correlation between seniority and access to private healthcare.
Just 6% of employees in junior positions said they accessed private healthcare for their cancer care. This compared to 64% of C-suite executives who said they accessed private health services during their cancer journey, followed by senior management level (52%), middle management (30%) and supervisors (29%) who said the same.
Unsupported and isolated
More than four in 10 (45%) employees with cancer believed their colleagues considered them a burden during their cancer journey and 35% did not feel they could openly talk to their colleagues about their diagnosis and treatment.
Additionally, 35% of employees said they felt isolated at work during their cancer experience. With the research indicating that employees who feel this way take more time off work during their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery (4.7 weeks) than the average of 4.3 weeks.
Mark Stephenson, CEO at Reframe Cancer, said: “Our extensive research has highlighted that things are much worse for employees working with cancer than we feared.
“They are taking 15 weeks off work on average, many will also take more than this, while 92% are also reliant on the NHS, and there is virtually no support being put in place for almost all these people.
“Of further concern is the gender inequality we are seeing in the provision of private healthcare, with 71% of men getting PMI support, compared to just 29% of females.
“As well as this there is an additional trend emerging whereby lower earners are the most dissatisfied with their employee benefits for cancer. The grade of an employee should not have an impact on the support they receive when dealing with cancer.
“Sadly the research also shows that stigmatisation of cancer is very real, and many employees feel as though they have to hide their cancer diagnosis, concerns and even symptoms – in 2024 this feels so wrong.
“This needs to be a massive wake up call to employers, brokers and insurers about the importance of cancer support in the workplace.
“There are an estimated 890,000 of working age that are currently living with cancer who will need ongoing support, and our expert cancer nurses can help employees navigate through the NHS, or private route, much quicker, whilst helping employees to keep working, and at the same time feel so much more supported.
“We praise the few employers and insurers who are leading the way on this cancer support in the workplace.”
Brian Walters, managing director of specialist PMI broker Regency Health, added: “This research underlines the important role private medical insurance can play.
“It can help relieve some of the pressure on the NHS and is becoming an increasingly sought after benefit. It is concerning that some employees feel under supported in their cancer journey, and its important advisers understand the importance of comprehensive cancer cover to an employee-benefits package.”
