Cancer is a disease that entails a series of significant challenges in the workplace that, although often go unnoticed, have a profound impact on productivity, emotional well-being, and the dynamics of the work environment. These invisible challenges affect not only those who suffer from the disease, but also their closest environment, including colleagues and the organization as a whole. Therefore, and given that a large part of the diagnosed cases in Spain corresponds to people of working age, companies have the responsibility to implement health and well-being measures and protocols that offer comprehensive support to both workers who suffer from this disease and to the teams as a whole.
In this context, Cigna Healthcare Spain and MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid-Hospiten have developed the guide The Invisible Impact of Cancer: Support Strategies in the Workplace. This document was presented today at an event that began with the intervention of Dr. Daniela Silva, specialist in Internal Medicine and E-Health Medical Manager of Cigna Healthcare Spain, and Dr. Santiago González, medical director of MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid-Hospiten. Subsequently, two round tables took place in which the most representative topics of the guide were discussed. The first, entitled The Impact on Productivity, Stress and Well-being: The Importance of Leaders in Managing Cancer in the Workplace, included the participation of Belén Viscasillas, Director of Health and Well-being of Ferrovial; Amaya Lasa, Director of Human Resources Administration of SNGULAR, and José Antonio Toledo, Deputy Director of Spain of MUFG Bank.
In it, the various ways in which cancer affects the productivity, stress and motivation of employees were analyzed, as well as strategies to support workers in their treatment and reintegration process. In addition, the need to train leaders so that they can manage these situations with empathy was valued.
In the second table, Support Strategies in the Workplace, moderated by Raúl Gómez, Director of People, Talent and Culture of Hospiten, Dr. Enrique Grande, Head of the Medical Oncology Service of MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid-Hospiten and Fátima Castaño, psycho-oncologist of the same center, and José Morejón, HR Advisor and Director of the Master of Human Resources at the Centro de Estudios Garrigues, participated. On this occasion, cancer was approached from a more scientific perspective, analyzing from advances in medical treatments and therapies, to the importance of creating inclusive and comprehensive work environments that favor the reintegration of employees in their workplace, promoting both their physical and psychological well-being.
Possible solutions to face the challenges of cancer
The guide proposes a detailed analysis of the invisible challenges faced by employees with cancer in the workplace. These have to face problems such as persistent fatigue, recurrent pain, anxiety and loss of confidence. Likewise, they must deal with work expectations, which, in many cases, increases their level of stress. To this end, the document presents concrete solutions, such as emotional support programs, personalized health plans, adaptations in the workplace, training for leaders and examples of good practices that have already proven to be effective. And it is that, despite the fact that cancer is sometimes perceived as a disease that only affects physical health, its implications go far beyond and impact on an emotional, social and professional level. Taking into account that, in Spain, nearly 300,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually, of which approximately 60% correspond to people under 65 years of age, the majority in active working age, as indicated by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the guide raises the need to have specific health and well-being protocols that include the approach to cancer.
Dr. Daniela Silva indicates that “up to 50% of cancer cases could be avoided by adopting a healthy lifestyle (quitting smoking, maintaining an adequate weight, performing regular physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption...) and implementing preventive strategies. When we talk about healthy companies, we want to go one step further and generate an environment where an employee with cancer knows that their well-being - at any level - matters and that their team supports them in every stage of the process. Companies that understand this not only improve the quality of life of their employees, but also strengthen their reputation and long-term performance.”
For his part, Dr. Santiago González Moreno, medical director of MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid- Hospiten, highlights that “cancer not only impacts physical health, but also the emotional and social well-being of people, affecting their productivity and work dynamics. In this sense, companies must assume a proactive role, implementing measures that address both medical and emotional aspects and ensuring an inclusive environment that supports workers throughout the entire process, from prevention to labor reintegration. The incidence of cancer continues to grow and it is estimated that this year it will increase by 3.3% and, therefore, it is crucial that organizations are prepared to provide the necessary support in this regard through flexible labor policies, emotional support programs and reintegration strategies.”
45% of people diagnosed with cancer do not have a process of progressive reintegration into work, according to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. This shows that, although cancer is a reality that affects thousands of employees, most companies still do not have a plan to manage its impact. In this sense, the guide underlines the need to adopt a comprehensive support approach that covers all phases of the process, from prevention to labor reintegration.
“When an employee is diagnosed with cancer, the challenge goes far beyond the purely medical part. It is a reality that impacts emotional, social and professional well-being, and that has a scope that affects not only the employee, but also all those around him.”, says Amira Bueno, Director of Human Resources of Cigna Healthcare Spain. “It is not enough to adapt schedules or functions; it is necessary to build a corporate culture in which workers feel psychological security with respect to the preservation of their positions, that they feel supported, understood and, above all, accompanied in all phases of the disease. This implies guaranteeing adequate access to psychological and medical support programs, the awareness of leaders and progressive reintegration measures that facilitate their adaptation.”
With this guide, Cigna Healthcare Spain and MD Anderson Madrid-Hospiten reinforce their commitment to promoting more inclusive and healthy work environments. Its objective is to provide companies with a practical tool that fosters an inclusive, resilient and prepared work environment to face the challenges associated with cancer, contributing to the well-being of employees and organizational success.
The guide The Invisible Impact of Cancer: Support Strategies in the Workplace is available for download through this link.
About Hospiten
Hospiten is an international healthcare network with more than 55 years of experience committed to providing a service of the highest quality, which has 20 private medical-hospital centers in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica and Panama, in addition to 175 outpatient medical centers, under the Clinic Assist brand. Founded by Dr. Pedro Luis Cobiella, it annually serves more than two million patients from around the world and has a staff of more than 5,000 people.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid is part of Hospiten and is a subsidiary of the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (Texas, USA). With more than twenty years of history in our country, MD Anderson Madrid currently has a Phase I Clinical Trials Unit, more than 150 medical specialists trained in oncology, a total of 87 hospitalization beds and state-of-the-art technological equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer.
