Nearly four in ten working adults who care for someone with cancer are considering leaving their jobs due to insufficient support from their employers, a new survey has found.
Research conducted by cancer navigation specialist Reframe Cancer reveals the emotional and practical pressure that cancer carers face, and growing concerns around employer readiness to support a rising number of working carers. It is estimated that 1.1 million working adults in the UK are currently caring for a loved one with cancer.
Among those surveyed, 57 percent said they felt completely unprepared for the demands of the role when they began. Additionally, 63 percent said the emotional strain made it difficult to continue working. The burden appears heaviest on younger employees, with 67 percent of 18-34 year olds reporting this issue – the highest of any age group.
Carers are often responsible for coordinating medical appointments, managing medications and providing daily support such as feeding and hygiene assistance, all while continuing their paid employment. Many of those surveyed reported that employers did not accommodate these needs effectively. The study suggests that if employers fail to adapt, they risk losing valuable staff.
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Younger carers face pressure to return to work
The survey also shows that 48 percent of respondents felt pressure to return to work quickly after taking time off for caring responsibilities. Again, the highest proportion was found among those aged 18-34, with 53 percent stating they felt compelled to return to the office sooner than they were ready.
This lack of support has resulted in a significant number of carers considering changing jobs. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they wanted to move to a different employer due to the level of support they received while caring for someone with cancer. Among younger workers, this figure rose to 40 percent.
Despite these challenges, the study did identify some positive outcomes when employer support was effective. Sixty-two percent of carers said work provided a welcome distraction from their caregiving role. The same proportion felt able to speak openly with colleagues about their responsibilities. Additionally, 63 percent said their line manager showed interest or concern after being informed about their situation.
Flexibility was cited as the most helpful solution. Forty-eight percent of carers said flexible hours would assist them in balancing work and caring duties. Working remotely was the second most popular option, selected by 40 percent. One in four also said they needed the ability to take time off specifically recognised for caregiving.
Employers to prepare for growing number of cancer carers
Mark Stephenson, CEO at Reframe Cancer, warned that as cancer rates continue to rise, so too will the number of working carers. He pointed to research showing a 24 percent rise in cancer diagnoses among under-50s over the past two decades, and that employees often remain in caregiving roles for around 12 months – making ongoing support from employers essential.
Stephenson said, “Providing support and the right level of employee benefits to working cancer carers is going to be an increasing need for employers over the coming years. It is not hard to see why, cancer rates amongst under 50s have risen 24 percent in the last two decades. Coupled with this carers will often take on the role of being a carer, whilst working, for 12 months, so it is a big commitment by any employee that takes this on, and one that should be fully supported by employers.”
He added that while many employers may feel unprepared to support cancer carers, this is not a valid excuse.
He added, “There are legal requirements that they must meet. At the same time they will need to be aware that insurance and EAP solutions do not cover carers and specifically cancer carers where a degree of specialist assistance is vital, so it’s important to really evaluate how this growing group of employees can be supported in the workplace.”
