Accommodating Employees with Cancer

If you have an employee, friend, or family member struggling with cancer, or if you are battling the disease yourself, you might be interested in some local resources on ADA compliance and related issues.
A local employer networking organization, the Connecticut Business Leadership Network is a group of more than 250 volunteers throughout the state that regularly hosts educational and networking meetings to improve recruitment and retention of qualified persons with disabilities, establish an inclusive work culture, and promote the adoption of best practices initiatives.
The next meeting in CTBLN’s Accommodation Series, Accommodating Employees Living with Cancer, will feature a presentation by Christine Brennan of Cancer and Careers.
The event will be held June 2 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at Eversource in Berlin.
For more information contact Mark Soycher, CBIA HR Counsel and volunteer member of CTBLN’s board of directors.

Federal Resources

In addition, the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has a Q&A guidance document, Cancer in the Workplace and the ADA, with excellent information on legal obligations, accommodation, and job performance.
Another resource worth checking out is the Job Accommodation Network, an online research organization affiliated with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.
JAN has a comprehensive online library of free reference materials, with a heavy emphasis on practical accommodation guidance covering a wide array of disability issues, including managing employees with cancer.