Evidence that cancer patients’ are treated unfairly at work

It has been alleged that some cancer patients face unfair dismissal and discriminatory treatment at work, according to a BBC investigation. The Disability Rights Commission revealed that 200 cancer patients had called its helpline during the past year complaining of problems at work, and claimed that these cases are the tip of an iceberg and that many more seriously-ill patients are still unaware of their rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. The Act gives people with cancer and other serious diseases such as multiple sclerosis the right not to be treated unfairly at work because of the condition from which they are suffering, and employers are obliged to changes the working arrangements of the relevant employees, taking steps to allow then time away from work for treatment, or allowing them to work shorter hours.