PARIS, FRANCE — In a world where one in every two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, the Publicis Foundation has launched the first cross-industry coalition to erase the stigma of cancer in the workplace, supported by leading cancer charities and organizations including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Macmillan Cancer Support, and the Gustave Roussy Institute.
In April 2022, Publicis CEO Arthur Sadoun was diagnosed and treated for cancer. After making his condition public, he received thousands of testimonies that exposed the fear those with cancer experienced, not only for their lives but also for their jobs.
Those messages reflected an unsettling reality that Working with Cancer aims to address: 50% of cancer patients are afraid to tell their employer about their diagnosis, despite 92% feeling that support at work positively impacts their health.
At Davos on 17, in partnership with the World Economic Forum Working with Cancer will launch a pledge rallying some of the world’s most influential companies around the commitment to building the most open, supportive, and recovery-forward work cultures for their employees (click here to see the pledge). It will invite every business, big and small, across the globe to join the movement at Workingwithcancerpledge.com. On this platform, each company will be able to outline its own commitments to cancer patients in their organizations.
Publicis’ specific pledge includes providing cancer patients with full job security for at least one year and bringing the necessary career support not only for them but also for caregivers in our organization. This pledge will be amplified by a campaign, “Work/Life,” that illustrates what cancer patients go through when they hide their condition from their colleagues.
At launch, Working with Cancer already has the support of key global organizations including Abbvie, Adobe, AXA, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, BT, Carrefour, Citi, Disney, EE, Google, Haleon, L’Oréal, Lloyd’s, LVMH, Marriott, McDonald’s, Meta, Mondelez, Microsoft, MSD, Nestlé, Orange, Omnicom, Pepsico, Reckitt, Renault Group, Sanofi, Toyota, Unilever, Verizon, and Walmart.
For World Cancer Day on February 04, Working with Cancer will launch a mass media wakeup call to encourage everyone to play their part in supporting their colleagues with cancer. To ensure this call will be heard by all, it will be backed by a far-reaching campaign and $100M in media that has been generously donated by partners around the world.
Arthur said, “It is a tough reality, but whether directly or indirectly, every one of us will have to confront cancer in our lives and in our workplaces. Companies have a key role to play in that. Working with Cancer is an increasingly important initiative, on a front that many businesses are already invested in. By making their existing efforts more accessible and visible, together we can reduce the anxiety and stigma of cancer in the workplace and positively impact our people’s health. Through a truly collaborative approach, a light lift from everyone becomes a deep and lasting impact on cancer patients at work.”
“MSK is proud to be a founding partner of Working With Cancer, and also to take this important pledge. As clinicians, scientists, and staff committed to caring for as well as treating people with cancer, we know the toll that cancer can have on patients and their families. Taking collective action to normalize the conversation around cancer in the workplace is imperative to help people feel supported as they experience their cancer journey,” said Selwyn M. Vickers M.D., FACS, President and CEO of MSK.
About Publicis Groupe’s Pledge:
1. “We will secure the job, salary level, and benefits of any Publicis Groupe employees diagnosed with cancer* for at least O year, so they can stay focused on their health treatment as the priority.”
2. “All Publicis Groupe employees with cancer* will be individually accompanied when they return to work through personalized career support.”
3. “All affected Publicis Groupe employees will have access to an internal community of volunteers (peers) who are properly trained to provide support through the Marcel platform.”
4. “All Publicis Groupe employees in a primary caregiver role for a patient in their immediate family will receive custom personal and professional support to navigate the flexibility and time arrangements needed to maintain their energy at work and as a caregiver.”
*Cancer: Publicis Groupe’s pledge applies to employees suffering from all forms of cancer and other chronic disease and serious illness requiring specific medical care as defined by the country in which they live.
CREDITS:
Work/Life
Le Truc
Andy Bird, Founding Partner & CCO
Craig Shervin, Associate Creative Director
David Spradlin, Associate Creative Director
Ryan Chong, EVP, Head of Production
Ryan McNally, Associate Producer
Megan Bundy, EVP, Managing Director
Tasha Royzina, Managing Director, Business & Talent Affairs
Kelly Ventrelli, VP, Director of Business & Talent Affairs
Publicis Groupe
Althea Gauvin, Director, Business Operations
Starcom
Gina Jacobson, Chief Growth Officer
Object & Animal, Production
Haya Waseem, Director
Stine Moisen, Line Producer
Adam Newport Berra, Director of Photography
James Cunningham, Executive Producer
Work, Editorial
Annie Perri, Editor
Theo Mercado, Editor
Griffin Ver Steeg, Assistant Editor
Malia Rose, Post Producer
Alejandra Alarcon, Executive Producer
Chris Delarenal, Head of Production
Erica Thompson, Managing Director
Orbital
Alfonso Velez, Music Supervisor
Audio
Matt Stewart, Sound Design and Mix
Harbor, Color
Damien Van Der Cruyssen, Colorist
Brad Martin, Producer
Maxwell Hadson, Producer
Scarlett Thiele, Color Assist
Sushil Gangaraju, Color Assist
Brian Corey, Associate Producer
Shyla Jade, Production Coordinator
Harbor, Finishing
Pete DeAndrea, Lead Compositor
Gigi Ng, 2D Lead
Jacob Robinson, Flame Assistant
Adean Gopala – Foster, Producer
Joaqui Lopez, Producer
Jesse Schwartz, Executive Producer
PXP, Finishing
Deanna Loperena, Head of Studios, PXP MidWest
Teddy Nagaro, Associate Director
Lauren Shawe, Executive Producer
Lindsay Swift, Senior Producer
Amy Plaukovich, Senior Producer
Luisa Galán, Production Manager
Daniel Jimenez, Motion Designer
Garrett Lee, Motion Designer
Felipe Lizano, Senior Motion Designer
