[Questionnaire surveys on working during treatment in Japanese employees and employers]

When an employee is diagnosed with cancer or another chronic disease, he/she needs support to achieve an acceptable balance between work and treatment. This study aimed to identify barriers to promoting work-treatment balance in Japanese companies.

Questionnaire surveys were conducted among Japanese employees (n = 2,000) and employers (n = 1,000). Employees were asked about their perceptions of disclosing health problems and seeking support in the workplace. Employers were asked about their perceptions of employees facing difficulty in working and their companies' work environments.

Only 6% of employees and 15% of employers acknowledged the work-treatment balance guideline proposed by the Japanese Government. More employees preferred not to disclose a health problem (33%) than preferred to disclose it (18%). The majority (81% of employees and 76% of employers) considered that it would be better for people facing difficulty in working to quit their jobs. About two-thirds of companies have not yet set up a consultation desk for employees facing difficulty in working. Flexible work arrangements, including hourly paid leave, shorter working hours, discretionary work, flextime, and work from home, have been introduced in only some of the companies.

Most employees and employers have little understanding of the work-treatment balance concept. All workers should get fully acquainted with the work-treatment balance guideline proposed by the Japanese Government. It is necessary for each company to create an atmosphere favorable for working during treatment and to provide a consultation service for employees facing difficulty in working.