There is a range of helpful material on the Internet to assist managers to deal effectively with cancer in the workplace. In our opinion there are two sites which are particularly helpful and we provide links to these below.

If you know of others that you have used and liked please tell us.

Macmillan Cancer Support provides a downloadable document "Guide for Employers", and links to a DVD and a suggested policy template.

A further resource to support employers covers YouTube videos and other tools to deal with some of the practicalities of cancer in the workplace:

• Breaking the news
• Confidentiality and colleagues
• Rights and responsibilities
• Carers and treatments for example.

If you are interested in some of the background research a CIPD survey reported on how organisations are handling cancer and working. Cancerbackup, one of the CIPD’s partners at the time and referred to on these pages, is now part of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The report covered:

• An exploration of some of the issues you might face if one of your employees is diagnosed with cancer, or is affected by cancer
• An overview of the law in relation to cancer in the workplace
• How to identify appropriate ways to respond to an employee who has received a cancer diagnosis, or is the primary carer for someone with cancer
• Signposting you to relevant sources of further information and support.