Episode 220 - What are my rights? Working with cancer and menopause

Do you know your rights to work after a cancer diagnosis and with ongoing menopause symptoms?From navigating time off, to returning to work, to managing menopause symptoms in the workplace, it can feel overwhelming to know what your rights are and what support you should expect.I’m joined by Barbara Wilson, from Working With Cancer, who brings over 50 years of experience supporting people through cancer at work.Together, we break this down in a really practical way— so you can feel more informed and more confident in advocating for yourself.In this episode, we cover:Whether cancer is automatically considered a disability under UK lawYour rights when returning to work after treatmentWhat a good return-to-work plan should actually look likeWhat “reasonable adjustments” mean — and real-life examplesWhat counts as discrimination in this contextHow much do you need to disclose about your diagnosis (including when applying for a job)Whether menopause is recognised as a disability under UK lawHow treatment-induced menopause after cancer is considered in the workplaceWhether employers are expected to support menopause symptomsEpisode Highlights:00:00 Introduction06:31 Supporting employees with cancer08:07 Discussing cancer diagnoses and menopause13:38 Creating flexible workplace plans15:29 Discussing cancer disclosure at work20:23 Discussing return to work planning22:00 Discussing phased return to work28:48 Supporting employees with health challenges31:22 Menopause and post-cancer life changes37:16 Flexible work schedule adjustments43:07 Reevaluating work after cancer diagnosis44:39 Easing back into work47:52 Disclosing cancer to an employerLink to Working with Cancer: https://workingwithcancer.co.uk/Connect with us:For more information and resources, visit our website: www.menopauseandcancer.org Follow us on Instagram @menopause_and_cancerFind us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@NavigatingMenopauseAfterCancer Join my NEW blog ‘Still Becoming’ on Substack: https://substack.com/@danibinnington?...Buy my book ‘Navigating Menopause After Cancer’: https://amzn.eu/d/07dUoYBbJoin our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/menopauseandcancerchathub Mentioned in this episode:Substack: https://danibinnington.substack.com/