Purple House launches training to help HR manage employees with cancer

A new online training initiative in Ireland is giving HR professionals and managers the tools to support employees diagnosed with cancer or undergoing treatment.

The programme, led by Purple House Cancer Support with support from Core, aims to improve workplace confidence, compassion, and compliance.

The training provides HR teams with practical knowledge to navigate sensitive workplace conversations professionally and empathetically.

In addition, two sessions are tailored for colleagues, guiding them on how to support co-workers during treatment and recovery.

The course is designed for businesses of all sizes and includes prerecorded videos alongside practical resources.

Conor O'Leary, Psychotherapist and Director of Operations at Purple House Cancer Support, said: "We are delighted to take Cancer Care at Work to the next stage with the launch of our nationwide training portal, which will ensure that cancer patients in employment all across Ireland will receive the support, flexibility and accommodations necessary to continue working while living with cancer."

Melissa Stone from Stone Executive Consulting, who developed the course in partnership with Purple House, added: "This training gives everyone the practical tools, language and confidence they need to respond with compassion, stay on the right side of employment law, and create a workplace where people feel genuinely seen and supported."

Bobby Kerr, broadcaster, entrepreneur, businessman and cancer survivor, emphasised the importance of the programme: "When someone in your team is diagnosed with cancer, it can be hard to know what to say or do - that’s why this training is so important."

Explore how HR teams can implement this training across their organisations by visiting the full article.