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Cancer and Reasonable Accommodations at the Workplace

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Posted 9/26/2013 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
To all,

I know that it is common for "older" gentlemen to get PCa and in many cases those people are already retired from the workplace or soon will be.

The purpose for my thread is for the younger folks, those who are still gainfully employed.

Our PCa diagnosis brings a lot of life changes with it, many of which are considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  This includes things like pain, fatigue, depression, stress, and other issues. 

 

Has anyone here ever requested any kind of reasonable accommodations from their employer as a result of the cancer, its treatments, or resulting life changes?

If so, I would very much like to hear about your experience and what kinds of issues or challenges you might have encountered.

Posted 9/26/2013 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, after radiation I told the Sup what my rad doc told me, "you will learn to trust your bladder and rectum". I told him I may need someone to step in my area for a few minutes on occaision, quickly!
Posted 9/26/2013 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Man, I'd love it if we could have a nap room. I don't know of any business that has such a thing, but about 2pm I'm really struggling most days.
Posted 9/26/2013 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, when I told my boss about my condition I asked for a cube closer to the restroom and that was granted.

I've found my employer to be very accommodating when it comes to my health issues. Time off, schedule adjustments and even a change in my work load were all worked out with a minimum of fuss.
Posted 9/26/2013 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
When I had my SRT I asked and received permission to work at home during the couple of months of treatment. The hospital was about a dozen miles west of my house and the office was about 30 miles east, which would have meant a lot of driving in heavy traffic. Fortunately I had a job I could do at home and was already set up with a VPN connection, company laptop, etc., because I already often worked at home nights, weekends etc. when needed to make deadlines. Also nearly all company meetings had people who had to dial in from afar, so it wasn't unusual to have meeting members on the phone or on a virtual PowerPoint conference site.
Posted 9/26/2013 9:37 PM (GMT 0)

My work place has been very accommodating to me.  I told everyone at the department meeting just before I started my radiation treatment.  I changed my work schedule to arrive one hour early due to my appointments were at 3:30 PM. I tried not to miss any work but was able to rest when I needed toward the end.  Seems fatigue was my main problem.   When my door was closed no one knocked or called.  I did have a little problem once with the H/R department about my scheduled Dr’s appointments a few times a year.  They expected me to take those days off as vacation until I told them cancer is no vacation (in so many words.  nono It’s ok now. But I don’t abuse the privilege either.  They get the time, believe me.

bertb

Posted 9/26/2013 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Working for state government I haven't nor do I expect any issues taking time off. I know I have the support of my bosses 3 up the chain of command, if any issues do arise I am sure it will be from some paper pusher in HR. I have my FMLA paper filled out and ready just incase.
Posted 9/26/2013 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
yeah, I told my boss "i'll be working from home more often and taking a year in Rome" :)
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