When Ovarian Cancer Causes Workplace Discrimination

You want to believe that your boss and coworkers will be sympathetic to your diagnosis of ovarian cancer and that they will work with you to resolve any problems and difficulties at the workplace you might experience while undergoing treatment. Unfortunately, reality has shown that those in the hopes of gaining a promotion will see your temporary weakness as the springboard needed to pass you by and receive that coveted promotion and subsequent increase in pay which should have been yours by rights.

When ovarian cancer causes workplace discrimination, quite frequently it is difficult to prove and even though you may not want to stay with a company that mistreats you, there is the chance of exercising legal remedies in order to be compensated for any illegal behavior directed toward you. This of course necessitates your keeping meticulous records and the trick to being confident in your job and position begins by taking notes and keeping journals while you are well, not when things begin to go downhill.

For example, choose the time that you will tell your supervisor about your illness with wisdom. Do not do so before the big bonus is paid out or before you are due for a raise or promotion evaluation. Instead, talk to your immediate supervisor about your ovarian cancer after such events and only when you have an ironclad treatment schedule and know what time limitation is most likely going to affect your work. It is considered to be one of the huge workplace mistakes to let your supervisor know about the problem she or he will most likely be facing but then fail to offer solutions.

If you come prepared with an already drafted schedule that will take into consideration your treatment needs and also offer solutions with respect to covering for your duties during surgery recovery and other such events, your supervisor will not see a detrimental situation that could adversely affect the business. Instead, the odds are good that your foresight is going to solidly place you in the category of valued workers who have good business sense and put their work first.

Frequently when ovarian cancer causes workplace discrimination, there has been a breakdown in communication. It is advisable to meet face to face with your supervisor and have a printed schedule and other documentation already prepared. This avoids misstatements that might be made in your absence to managers and others.

To protect your job, keep a log of the activities you are required to perform and the amount of time it takes you to accomplish these tasks. Assuming that you are starting before you begin chemotherapy, undergo surgery, or explore other treatment options, there is a good chance that you will have an optimal record of your current work habits and the results they netted you at the last performance review. Keep track of your work load during your treatment and seek to keep up with the workload as good as possible. Should you suddenly receive the dreaded pink slip with the reason given that you are no longer performing as expected, you have a record to prove otherwise.