Woman Battling Stage 4 Cancer Asked When She Is Returning To Work

What's more important-- Recovering from cancer or adhering to corporate protocol? According to one organisation, it's the latter. A Reddit post sparked this conversation after a user shared an email that their mother, who is battling stage 4 cancer, received from her boss, inquiring about her expected return to work. "Can you please get a letter from your oncologist to state if you are fit to come back to work," the mail reads. The employer even set a deadline for the woman to send in the certificate and asked her to drop in at the office for a "welfare check" the next day.

According to the original poster (OP), their 50-year-old mother has been battling cancer for the last 18 months. Despite the workplace being aware of her condition, the employers keep asking her if she is ready to rejoin work. The insensitive email has left netizens wondering how human empathy got lost in the maze of the corporate culture.

"If You Are Fit Now, Please Return To Work"

Reddit user @disneydoll96 from Ireland shared on the microblogging platform that their mother's employer repeatedly keeps asking her to rejoin work, drop by the office for some meetings, or send certificates attested by an oncologist. They added that moreover, the employer never offers any emotional support. 

In the post, the OP shared a screenshot of the recent email their mother received. The employer asked their mother to send a letter from her oncologist stating whether she was fit to rejoin work and add details about the tasks that she would be able or unable to perform. The mail then reads, "Please send the certificate... as soon as possible."

My Mum has stage 4 cancer in 5 areas and her boss has been pressuring her to come back to work.

byu/disneydoll96 inantiwork

The email exposed the sheer lack of understanding that the boss has about their employee. Cancer treatment can cause severe physical and mental strain on the person as well as their family. Instead of giving the woman some space and emotional support to recover from the toiling illness, the employers are more concerned about their company protocol.

Disneydoll96 shared that their mother hopes to return to work after recovery as she is the family's sole earner. The OP, who said they are a student, commented that their mother is a single parent and the family is going through financial troubles which have been exacerbated since the cancer diagnosis.