Chapter 6 Call for a Working Plan

In This Chapter
➤ Still an asset, not a liability
➤ Setting the workplace tone
➤ Knowing employee rights
➤ Where to go for help—if you need it
“And, what do you do for a living?” When you meet someone for the first time, do
you often ask this question first? Whether we work inside or outside the home, volun-
teer our services or receive a paycheck, at least part of our self-esteem is attached to
the work we do in our daily lives. For many people, work offers a sense of continuity
and community; going to the office, setting up in front of a computer, or folding the
laundry is part of a daily routine. But a diagnosis of breast cancer can—and probably
will—disrupt this routine, at the very time when routine, structure, and continuity is
what the doctor ordered! Indeed, more than 100 years ago, Freud said that the essence
of life was “love and work.” We need both.
In this chapter, we’ll explore the challenges of working outside the home while at the
same time coping with the physical and emotional demands of fighting breast cancer.
Those challenges may include not only having the strength and stamina to keep up
with the pace of work, it also may involve dealing with co-workers and superiors who
may feel uncomfortable with, or resentful of, your condition and the extra demands
on your time and attention it takes. We’ll show you ways to meet those challenges,
including what you’ll need to do from a legal standpoint if you face discrimination in
the workplace.