💼 Returning to Work After Illness: Why Employers Must Do Better

When I read about the teacher who won £140,000 after being told she’d “let colleagues down” for taking sick leave following back surgery, my heart sank — but I wasn’t surprised.

Sadly, this is something I see far too often as a Cancer Recovery Coach working with women after treatment.
I’m Gabrielle (Gabby) Mottershead, founder of Confidence After Cancer, and I help women rebuild their confidence, energy, and identity when treatment ends — especially when they’re returning to work and finding the world hasn’t quite caught up with their healing.

⚖️ What Happened — and Why It Matters

A teacher in North London took time off for a serious back operation. When she returned, she was told in a meeting that she’d “let her students and colleagues down.”

The Employment Tribunal ruled that those words amounted to disability harassment under the Equality Act 2010, awarding her £140,000 in damages.

Six words. Six figures. And a painful reminder that too many workplaces still fail to understand the realities of recovery.

💡 What Employers Often Get Wrong

Taking time off for illness, surgery, or treatment isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. But many people returning to work are still made to feel guilty for needing time to heal.

As a cancer survivor myself, I know how fragile that transition can feel. You’re doing your best to recover, yet the workplace sometimes treats you as though you’ve done something wrong.

Employers often forget that they have both a legal and a moral responsibility to protect recovering staff:

✅ Legal: Under UK law, employers must make reasonable adjustments and avoid any form of harassment linked to health or disability.
✅ Moral: Beyond compliance, it’s about compassion, culture, and humanity. The way you treat someone in recovery says everything about your organisation’s values.

💬 Words Matter — and So Does Culture

“You’ve let us down.”

It’s such a small phrase, but one that cuts deep when you’re already fighting to regain your strength and confidence.

I’ve supported women who returned to work after cancer treatment only to hear, “We’ve all had to cover for you,” or “We thought you’d be back to normal by now.”

That kind of language causes emotional harm — and, as this case proves, it can also have serious legal consequences.

Workplace culture must evolve.

Recovery is not a performance issue — it’s part of life.

🌿 How We Can Create Healthier Workplaces

If you’re an employer or HR leader, this story should make you pause.
Here’s what I recommend as both a coach and a former corporate manager:

1️⃣ Educate line managers. Train them to understand recovery, fatigue, and the long-term impact of illness.
2️⃣ Offer genuine flexibility. Hybrid working, phased returns, and realistic timelines show true care.
3️⃣ Encourage open conversations. Create a culture where employees can talk about health without fear.
4️⃣ Lead with empathy. Healing takes courage — acknowledge it.
5️⃣ Bring in support. Coaches, wellbeing programmes, and awareness training make a real difference.

When people feel supported, they return stronger, more loyal, and more productive. Compassionate workplaces always win.

💖 My Work: Helping Women Thrive After Cancer

I created Confidence After Cancer because I saw too many women feeling lost after treatment — uncertain how to rebuild their confidence, career, and energy.

Through my Powerfully You™ coaching programme, I help women:
✨ Redefine their identity beyond “patient” or “survivor.”
✨ Build confidence to navigate work and life again.
✨ Set healthy boundaries to protect their wellbeing.
✨ Plan a sustainable, fulfilling “new normal.”

If you’re a woman recovering from cancer, and you’re wondering how to take your next steps — you don’t have to do it alone.

You can:
💌 Subscribe to my Monday Morning Motivation newsletter for weekly inspiration
🎧 Listen to the Confidence After Cancer podcast for empowering stories
💬 Book a free clarity call to explore one-to-one coaching

Your comeback story starts here:
👉 www.confidenceaftercancer.co.uk

✨ Final Thought

This case was about one teacher — but the lesson applies everywhere.
Employers: your people are your greatest strength. Protect them, respect them, and stand by them through recovery.
Employees: never apologise for healing. Taking time to recover is not weakness — it’s wisdom.

Because healing is not letting people down.
It’s how we rise again. 💖