Cancer is a workplace issue.
We support employees, caregivers, managers, and HR professionals navigating cancer at work.
People · Workplaces · Brighter Tomorrows
Who We Support
Cancer affects more than just the individual. We support the entire workplace community with resources, education, and expert guidance.
Every year, thousands of Canadians receive a cancer diagnosis while employed.
The impact reaches far beyond the diagnosis — it affects income, identity, and the ability to stay connected to meaningful work. Work Beyond Cancer exists because the workplace is often the last place people think to look for support — and the first place they need it.
Learn about our approach
Support for every stage of the experience.
From diagnosis to return-to-work, we provide practical tools, expert guidance, and a compassionate community.
Education & Training
Workshops and resources to help organizations build cancer-inclusive workplace cultures.
Peer Support
In DevelopmentConnecting people affected by cancer with trained peers who truly understand — because lived experience matters.
The Work Beyond Cancer Standard™
In DevelopmentA framework for organizations committed to becoming truly cancer-inclusive workplaces.
The scale of the challenge
Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
of cancer survivors return to work within two years of diagnosis
of employers feel unprepared to support employees through cancer
of cancer patients report financial hardship affecting their treatment decisions
Sources
- 1.Canadian Cancer Society. (2023). Canadian Cancer Statistics. cancer.ca
- 2.Pryce, J., & Munir, F. (2022). Return to work after cancer: A systematic review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation.
- 3.Conference Board of Canada. (2022). Supporting Employees Through Cancer: Employer Preparedness Survey.
- 4.Canadian Cancer Society. (2023). The financial impact of cancer in Canada. cancer.ca
The values we build on.
Work Beyond Cancer was built around a set of principles we believe every workplace should reflect.
Compassion
We recognize that people bring their whole lives to work. Health challenges, caregiving responsibilities, grief, recovery, and uncertainty deserve understanding and humanity.
Respect
Every person deserves to be treated with dignity. Different perspectives, experiences, abilities, backgrounds, and ways of working make organizations stronger.
Trust
We believe strong organizations are built when people are trusted to contribute, communicate openly, and perform their roles without unnecessary barriers.
Flexibility
There is rarely one right way to work. We want to embrace flexibility wherever possible and recognize that health, life, and work sometimes need to coexist differently.
Inclusion and Accessibility
We are committed to creating an environment where people can participate meaningfully and where accessibility and accommodation are built into how we operate.
Psychological Safety
People should be able to raise concerns, ask questions, request support, and contribute ideas without fear of embarrassment, retaliation, or exclusion.
Collaboration
We want people to work with one another — not around one another. Clear roles, healthy communication, shared accountability, and mutual respect will be important parts of our culture.
Lived Experience
We value professional expertise, but we also recognize the extraordinary value of lived experience. People who have experienced cancer, caregiving, disability, workplace accommodation, medical leave, and return to work bring perspectives that cannot be learned from a textbook.
Courage
Building something new requires the willingness to speak up, take principled stands, and do the right thing even when it is difficult. We want to create an organization where courage is recognized and supported.
Help us change how Canada works through cancer.
Work Beyond Cancer is built on the belief that no one should have to choose between their health and their livelihood. There are many ways to be part of that change.
Join us
Share your expertise — whether in HR, law, healthcare, or lived experience — to help us reach more people.
See opportunitiesPartner with us
Employers, unions, and health organizations can partner with us to build more cancer-inclusive workplaces.
Explore partnershipsSpread the word
Share our resources with someone who needs them. Awareness is the first step toward change.
Share our mission
No one should face cancer alone. Support belongs at work, too.
Whether you're an employee, a caregiver, or an HR professional — we're here to help you navigate what comes next.