A vision for better: Destigmatising cancer in the workplace

Fifty per cent of workers in one of the world’s largest media organisations did not feel comfortable talking about their cancer diagnosis. What does this say about attitudes in the wider workforce?

In a recent episode of the HR Leader Podcast, Pauly Grant, chief talent officer in APAC and in ANZ for Publicis Groupe, shared her thoughts on supportive workplace culture and life-changing workplace conversations.

At the end of 2022, the CEO of Publicis Groupe, Arthur Sadoun, announced his cancer diagnosis in a video sent across Publicis, which reached the company’s 100,000 staff members.

“You’ve got someone openly talking about their diagnosis to say, I’m not going to be here for a couple of months, this is what’s happened, but I will be back. See you then,” Grant said.

A positive reaction was received by Publicis; many of its employees were inspired to disclose their own diagnoses or disclose the diagnosis of a colleague.

She said, support is through more than just the role description and the company’s values: “I’m also quite into the work environment and the space that people work in and how that can facilitate different feelings and responses, and I suppose commitment and loyalty to a company.”

“We can’t just look at someone as an employee, I don’t use that word, I use the word people,” she said.

She added: “If you know that your organisation is going to be there and support you no matter what, then I think it would be easier to talk about.”

Grant reinforced the impact that work culture has on making diagnosis disclosures easier for employees: “It’s got to be leadership, and it’s going to come from the whole organisation.”

She added: “If you can get that right and you can start to create that really special culture, you will bring the best out in people.”

Findings from a survey by Publicis showed that, out of its 100,000 global employees, “50 per cent of people felt that they wouldn’t be comfortable” talking about cancer to their leaders.

Grant recognised that questions need to be asked to interrogate this issue. “How do we talk about that and make that an easier conversation, and how do we support those people better in an organisation?” she said.

Grant also stated that half of Australians either know someone who’s diagnosed with cancer or have been diagnosed themselves.

“Personally, I’ve had two really close friends in the last two years pass away from cancer; it is so prevalent, and it touches all of us,” she said.

She expressed that workplace culture is the backbone of policy and that it starts with the ecosystem and recognition of touch points that need to be engaged. She commented: “That’s what creates that equity and consistency.”

Despite the obstacles surrounding this topic, she said: “I have hope and faith that good organisations recognise that supporting and looking after their people means that they will be happy and they’ll produce their best work.”

“Whether it’s a conversation with your leadership team, whether it’s a conversation within your, you know, people team.”

She concluded, “I think just starting that conversation is a really good first step.”