Thankfully, more and more employers are starting to realize that by supporting staff members who have cancer, the company itself stands to benefit as well.

In fact, according to a 2015 study by the Job Accommodation Network, among the benefits a company can reap by providing reasonable accommodations to qualifying workers are: retaining a valued employee, increasing the employee’s attendance and productivity, and avoiding the cost of training a new staffer.

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune profiles one such supportive employer, Mesirow Financial, who has launched a program to assist staff members who are dealing with cancer. In addition to an intranet featuring helpful information and resources, the company has created “privacy rooms,” where employees going through treatment and/or experiencing lingering side effects can take a break during the workday.

For useful information on how employers can assist employees who are working through treatment, consult the Workplace Transitions website, a collaboration of Cancer and Careers, Anthem, Inc., Pfizer and the U.S. Business Leadership Network.

If you’re looking for some practical tools to pass along to your own supervisor, download a copy of our Manager’s Kit.

For the complete Chicago Tribune article, click here.

For the Job Accommodation Network and other helpful resources, consult our Resource Database.