When individuals are diagnosed with cancer, they are often faced with decisions about how to navigate the workplace, including whether to work through treatment or take time off work. Some individuals may find that they need to replace lost wages while taking time off and need information about disability insurance. Others are concerned about disclosing their cancer diagnosis to their employer or a potential employer. Caregivers may also face work-related issues. This page contains legal and practical resources to help individuals effectively navigate employment & workplace issues after a cancer diagnosis.
Chart of State Laws: Employment & Disability Insurance
Quick Guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Quick Guide to the ADA & Reasonable Accommodations
Quick Guide to Assistive Technologies
Checklist: Reasonable Accommodations
Quick Guide to Returning to Work
Quick Guide to Medical Marijuana
Quick Guide to Disclosure, Privacy, & Medical Certification Forms
CancerFinances.org – Employment Module
Triage Cancer Educational Blogs – Employment
Quick Guide to Disability Insurance
Quick Guide to Navigating SSDI & SSI
Quick Guide to State Disability Insurance
Quick Guide to the Timing of Social Security Disability Insurance & Medicare Benefits
Quick Guide to Legal Assistance
CancerFinances.org – Disability Insurance Module
Triage Cancer Blog – Disability Insurance
Create an online SSA account to view your Social Security statement
Below you will find recordings of past webinars. Check out our upcoming webinars for up-to-date information on these topics here.
A cancer diagnosis often brings up questions on how to navigate work and cancer. Regardless of if you are working through treatment or returning to work after taking some time off for treatment, you may have access to federal, state, and employer protections. This webinar will address the relevant laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), state laws, and disclosure and privacy protections.
With cancer treatment often comes side effects. These physical, cognitive, and emotional changes can present challenges at work and in school. This webinar will discuss the practical and legal tools that exist to minimize challenges and cope with side effects.
Disclosure of a cancer diagnosis is a personal decision and there may be ramifications of disclosing. This webinar will discus the psychological aspects of disclosure decisions, the employment rights associated with disclosure, and other aspects to consider of disclosure.
Understanding how federal and state laws, employer policies, and disability insurance work together is key to being able to take time off work, maintain an income, and protect one's job and employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. There are also options for caregivers who need to take time off work. This session will cover the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family & Medical Leave Act, state leave laws, and disability insurance options, and explain how they can work together.
Get the latest updates on federal, state, and local laws that have an impact on the cancer community, including medical marijuana, death with dignity, and paid leave.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR) – Cancer
The MyJAN portal is a new online tool from JAN, where you can organize JAN Newsletter articles, accommodation solutions by disability, A to Z by Topic resources, and more, in one convenient online location.
Sample Accommodation Request Form Letter
Employee Accommodation Inquiry Letter
Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the ADA
Job Applicants and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Examinations of Employees Under the ADA
JAN Disability Disclosure and Employment
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Disability Discrimination
U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment – Workplace Accommodation Toolkit
Cancer and Careers has several resources that can be very useful for individuals looking for work.
Flexjobs.com is a paid service designed to help job seekers find legitimate flexible jobs (e.g., part-time, telecommuting, etc.).