Purple House launches online cancer-support training course

Training designed to equip HR professionals and managers with the skills to manage workplace conversations about cancer care

Life

A new online training course to help HR professionals and managers support employees undergoing a cancer diagnosis or treatment has been launched by Purple House Cancer Support, a leading cancer support organisation in Ireland, with support from marketing communications company Core.

The new course, created by Melissa Stone of Stone Executive Consulting in partnership with Purple House, is part of the Cancer Care at Work initiative, launched earlier this year.

The training is designed to equip HR professionals and managers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate one of the most sensitive workplace conversations in a professional and empathetic manner.

There will also be two additional training sessions designed specifically for colleagues, with a key focus on how to support a co-worker following a cancer diagnosis or during treatment and recovery.

Designed for businesses of all sizes, the training combines prerecorded videos with practical resources to help employers respond with compassion while meeting their legal obligations.

Modules specifically designed for managers and HR professionals aim to build awareness and understanding, while also providing a practical toolkit that can be applied in real-world workplace situations.

The course is part of the Cancer Care at Work initiative, which was developed to provide a framework enabling employers and businesses to establish policies and support systems for employees who receive a cancer diagnosis or are caring for a loved one undergoing treatment.

While 88% of employees believe that having a workplace cancer policy is important, only 19% report that their company currently has one, highlighting a significant gap between employee expectations and existing workplace support.

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