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Original poster

Colleague dismissed due to cancer

166 replies

user9102991 · 27/08/2025 20:35

My colleague was dismissed earlier this month due to a long term illness (cancer). She has been off for just over a year and is going through chemotherapy.
I've never worked anywhere before where someone has been dismissed due to ill health, does this happen in most work places?

OP posts:
BooneyBeautiful · 28/08/2025 23:50

50Balesofgrey · 27/08/2025 22:37

I had 6 weeks off this spring due to a mastectomy for breast cancer. I've worked for them for over 30 years. Ive bever had more than two days sick in a year before. Ive been given a warning for unsatisfactory attendance. If I have more than 4 days in the next year I'll move to the next stage.

I'm waiting for an unrelated hysterectomy. My employer (the Probation Service) won't respond to my request to clarify whether they require that I only take 4 days off following surgery. Boils my piss.

Wow! That seems really harsh!

schtompy · 28/08/2025 23:53

Burntout01 · 28/08/2025 11:56

Its not selfish at all, its simply stating facts. This person has time off for pretty much anything and everything (‘upset tummy’ ‘migraines’ ‘vertigo’ ‘anxiety’ bereavement’ ) to name a small number. Where an average person might have a few days off this persons default is to go off for months. I myself live with a chronic, possibly life limiting health condition and occasionally have no choice but to be off sick for a week or two, but take a view that if it gets to a point where I’m perpetually absent I will do the decent thing and either resign or request (and hope I get) medical retirement).
its not selfish to not want to have to always work over my own designated workload to make someone else’s life easier!! They certainly don’t care about me!!

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I'd like to see you take just a week or 2 off whilst having chemotherapy, every 3 weeks for 6 sessions after surgery, followed by radiotherapy. I'm sure the person isn't doing it to wind just little ol you up..but actually physically and mentally cannot do the work.
yes I can speak, I've had surgery I'm halfway through what has turned out to be thoroughly and surprisingly exhausting and brutal chemo, I'm floored for 10 days, feel almost normal after 14, list nearly a stone in weight. I have returned to do my shift work before my next infusion every 3rd week. . I returned to reduced hours 4 weeks after surgery. Now I'm on weekly chemo, I have tried my hardest as it's my mental well-being going to work. I'm on ssp but that runs out soon. Don't judge until you've been through it.

healthybychristmas · 28/08/2025 23:53

sciaticafanatica · 27/08/2025 20:41

I’ve never seen it happen.
I worked somewhere 20yrs ago that kept someone terminally ill employed (although they were off sick) they paid them fully and made sure his family got company death benefits.
doubt that would happen anywhere now

Same here. Place I was working at somebody was very seriously ill and their husband suggested they retire from work. The managing director refused to let that happen, explaining that the husband would be better off when the wife died if she was still at work at this time.I doubt that would happen nowadays.

BooneyBeautiful · 29/08/2025 00:10

EachandEveryone · 28/08/2025 10:40

Yes I’m three years in October. On immunotherapy and the colitis is severe because of it. I’ve got 12 weeks annual leave accumulated! They are going to give me half of it in a block now. Can’t get universal credit as I retired and returned so have savings over six thousand. I’m taking out a thousand a month I could weep when I think of 25 years a nurse and my lump sum is being spent on cancer living and not fun things.

Between £6000 worth of savings and £16000, you can still claim UC, but you lose £4.35 for every £250 (or part thereof) you have in savings over £6K. Presumably you have more than £16K?

daffodilandtulip · 29/08/2025 00:14

My nursing colleague in the nhs was dismissed after a year off with cancer.

Burntout01 · 29/08/2025 07:58

schtompy · 28/08/2025 23:53

I'd like to see you take just a week or 2 off whilst having chemotherapy, every 3 weeks for 6 sessions after surgery, followed by radiotherapy. I'm sure the person isn't doing it to wind just little ol you up..but actually physically and mentally cannot do the work.
yes I can speak, I've had surgery I'm halfway through what has turned out to be thoroughly and surprisingly exhausting and brutal chemo, I'm floored for 10 days, feel almost normal after 14, list nearly a stone in weight. I have returned to do my shift work before my next infusion every 3rd week. . I returned to reduced hours 4 weeks after surgery. Now I'm on weekly chemo, I have tried my hardest as it's my mental well-being going to work. I'm on ssp but that runs out soon. Don't judge until you've been through it.

Show quote history

My colleague does not and has never had cancer, or any other ‘major’ illness. Obviously having cancer is a completely different situation and one which I would extend every sympathy and support to.

Iwouldratherbemuckingout · 29/08/2025 08:14

I worked in the public sector - in all my employments the sickness policy would have been followed, and the person would have gone into half pay after so long, then no pay, but we would never have dismissed someone with cancer. In fact, we extended half pay to ensure a colleague with cancer did not suffer financial hardship. It was the right thing to do. Bloody hell, some employers have no integrity reading this thread.

schtompy · 29/08/2025 09:52

BooneyBeautiful · 29/08/2025 00:10

Between £6000 worth of savings and £16000, you can still claim UC, but you lose £4.35 for every £250 (or part thereof) you have in savings over £6K. Presumably you have more than £16K?

Show quote history

New style esa doesn’t take in your savings, neither does pip..might be worth investigating

schtompy · 29/08/2025 09:53

Burntout01 · 29/08/2025 07:58

My colleague does not and has never had cancer, or any other ‘major’ illness. Obviously having cancer is a completely different situation and one which I would extend every sympathy and support to.

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Maybe adjust your post then as it does not sound like you have sympathy.

BooneyBeautiful · 29/08/2025 17:20

schtompy · 29/08/2025 09:52

New style esa doesn’t take in your savings, neither does pip..might be worth investigating

Show quote history

I think you meant to reply to the PP, not me.

schtompy · 29/08/2025 17:45

BooneyBeautiful · 29/08/2025 17:20

I think you meant to reply to the PP, not me.

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Soz yes!

CantHoldMeDown · 29/08/2025 18:37

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

CancerFreeForNow · 07/09/2025 23:53

BooneyBeautiful · 28/08/2025 23:50

Wow! That seems really harsh!

Show quote history

@50Balesofgrey have à look at the civil service working through cancer networks.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-staff-networks/civil-service-working-through-cancer-network

I'm sure that MoJ have one, but not being MoJ myself can’t help. But the x-HMG network will know. .

Civil Service Working Through Cancer Network

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-staff-networks/civil-service-working-through-cancer-network

CancerFreeForNow · 07/09/2025 23:55

Iwouldratherbemuckingout · 29/08/2025 08:14

I worked in the public sector - in all my employments the sickness policy would have been followed, and the person would have gone into half pay after so long, then no pay, but we would never have dismissed someone with cancer. In fact, we extended half pay to ensure a colleague with cancer did not suffer financial hardship. It was the right thing to do. Bloody hell, some employers have no integrity reading this thread.

Cancer is classed as a disability so time off for treatment, diagnosis, or rehabilitation should be classed as (paidj disability leave not sick leave. Disability leave doesn’t count towards trigger points. ,

Sickofthis027394 · 08/09/2025 08:18

My husband has been off sick since November 2021 with severe mental health issues. I cannot tell you how lucky we have been. The large company he works for had payment protection insurance.
My husband is paid 50% of his wage from the insurance company and he is still classed as employed.
We are so grateful to them for this. I dont know what our lives would look like without this

CantHoldMeDown · 08/09/2025 08:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

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