Almost half of workers would stay with their current employer longer if they were offered vocational rehabilitation support when they were ready after a long-term health condition such as cancer, according to findings from Working To Wellbeing.
Working To Wellbeing’s Window to the Workplace research which surveyed 529 UK line managers and 108 people, also found this figure rose to 58% of adults under 35 and 63% of those aged 35-54.
Working To Wellbeing also asked line managers their views on vocational rehabilitation and 80% agreed that rehabilitation to build physical, social and work skills is important after a long-term illness such as cancer.
Nearly eight in 10 (78%) line managers also agreed that personalised and timely vocational rehabilitation interventions do result in better work and health outcomes for people with cancer, rising to 82% of adults aged under 35.
Dr Julie Denning, managing director, chartered health psychologist at Working To Wellbeing and chairwoman of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association, (pictured) said: “Over the last decade, our experience as a back-to-work rehabilitation specialist has found that most people with cancer want and need to be in work.
“Earlier diagnoses and developments in treatments mean that cancer survival rates are rising and more people with cancer are heading back into the workplace.
“This requires a shift in employer behaviour to ensure they can offer the support and tools required, and the training in place for line managers to implement it.
“Employers must understand how to prepare for both a phased, and personalised, return-to-work programme to accommodate the needs of their employees.
“Aside from their legal obligations, to ignore the importance of vocational rehabilitation risks impacting productivity, retention, morale and costs.”