'We can all reduce stigma around managing illness in the workplace and have an incredibly positive impact on people's wellbeing,' says HR leader
When Arthur Sadoun, CEO of Publicis Groupe, underwent treatment for cancer, he pledged to improve the support for others suffering and also reduce the stigma, having found very little open discussion in workplaces.
And as we mark World Cancer Day on 4 February employees all over the world are now benefiting from his commitment and the movement he created.
In early 2022, Sadoun was diagnosed with and treated for thyroid cancer. After sharing his personal story, he was inundated with messages from people expressing that during their own experiences, they’d also feared cancer would impact their jobs.
“He was completely moved by the fact even in his own company, so many employees were saying how difficult their own experiences were and that some people ended up leaving their jobs and not returning,” says Jessica Farrell, GM people & culture. “He really wanted to change that.”
Publicis’ Working with Cancer policy
After returning to work in late 2022, Sadoun launched Publicis’ own Working with Cancer policy, which provides support for 100,000 employees worldwide. He was also committed to a broader impact beyond just Publicis Groupe and launched the Working with Cancer Pledge - a worldwide campaign to encourage employers to eradicate the stigma and anxiety of cancer in the workplace.
Over 1,250 organisations globally have now committed to the pledge, including Pfizer, Meta, Disney, L’Oréal, Nestlé, and Toyota. Each has promised to abolish job fear and insecurity that can exist for cancer sufferers in the workplace.
Signatories also commit to publicising to their workforces their benefits for employees with cancer and for those taking care of family members who are suffering, as well as considering ways they could do more.
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Publicis’ own policy involves a number of mechanisms through which employees are supported, says Farrell. This includes the commitment to secure someone's full salary and benefits for one year if they’re diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening chronic illness or serious disease that would mean they couldn’t be at work.
Working with Cancer community
“We don't want people to have to decide between their financials and their personal health,” says Farrell. “The commitment also includes securing that person’s role so they don't lose their job.
“On top of that, we also created a Working with Cancer community. Marcel is an AI-driven platform that connects all employees around the globe, and through that we have a whole bunch of different supports for people that might be diagnosed with cancer themselves or those who are carers.”
Employees qualify for the policy from the day they start with Publicis and flexible options are offered to those wanting to remain at work part-time.
Already, within the last 12 months throughout New Zealand and Australia - which covers 1,600 employees - several have activated this policy and the support provided.
Diversity and inclusion
“We know how important it is for people to be able to bring their whole self to work and feel they can be their authentic selves,” says Farrell. “You can only imagine being diagnosed with something like that, and then feeling like you've got to act like everything's fine and not able to share it.”
In addition, if treatment is needed beyond the 12 months, Publicis also commits to being open to discussing alternative return to work plans and whether further support might be provided.
“Our ‘Wholeself’ working group focuses on financial, mental and physical wellness of our people,” says Farrell. “Through that we partnered with Molemap to fund skin cancer checks for employees in the workplace. This was an incredibly important and well received initiative given that skin cancer is the most common form in New Zealand and Australia.”
The organisation’s approach sits well with its culture. “Philosophically we’re driven by a diversity, equity and inclusion ethos called ‘Viva La Difference’” she says. “That really is the beating heart of a lot of the policies and approaches we implement.”
Talk to employees
Farrell’s advice to other organisations considering a similar cancer policy is to look at the Working with Cancer Pledge website to gain insight and inspiration, and even to reach out to Publicis direct for advice if required.
“Then talk to your employees,” she says. “There's a high probability that you will have people experiencing this now. Ask them what they want, what support might be useful and encourage open discussions.
It’s important to ensure managers are confident having those conversations and are able to support the employees and teams around them.
“Through the Working with Cancer Pledge, we encourage other organisations to also commit to remove the stigma around cancer or illness in the workplace. We can all reduce the stigma and anxiety around managing illness in the workplace and have an incredibly positive impact on people’s wellbeing.”