'Cancer & Work: Acting Together' at Sanofi

The pharmaceutical company Sanofi launched its international program "Cancer & Work: Acting Together" in February. It provides support to employees affected by cancer.

The company says in a statement that it is providing social, mental and financial support, with up to twelve months of supplementary pay through a health fund, regardless of job title or geographical location. The initiative also aims to encourage workers with illnesses to seek help more often.

In addition to the financial support, workers will also have maximum flexibility in their working hours to allow them to combine their health condition with their work. In addition to financial support, the program also provides mental support for the workers concerned. Specially trained volunteer colleagues are available to help their colleagues from diagnosis through treatment to return to work.

"I'm proud that we have launched an initiative where we can ensure that affected colleagues can concentrate fully on their recovery, stop worrying about their jobs and return to work as soon as possible. We strive to ensure that people living with cancer have the widest possible support and know that they are not alone at work. I'm delighted that, although the program has only just started, more and more people are already volunteering in Hungary, which shows that our staff are committed to supporting people affected by the disease," HR Director at Sanofi, Rita Rajkovics said.

Many of the volunteers in the network have personal experience of cancer; this link creates a safe space to share experiences, learn about available resources and build supportive relationships. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) also provides affected workers in all countries with access to psychological support from external experts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The program also aims to equip managers to support their team members who are affected by cancer. It provides them with the knowledge to inform their colleagues about local benefits and support options.