ABC’s respectful treatment of Jeopardy! host offers valuable lessons for employers
My husband and I have been grieving the loss of one of our most steadfast companions, someone with whom we spent hundreds of hours over the years but had never actually met. Sadly, Alex Trebek, the long-time Jeopardy! host, passed away on November 8, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Although new episodes of the game show will continue to air through Christmas and a new host will eventually be named, we’ll sorely miss Trebek, who made us smarter and helped us unwind each day after work.
3 key principles
ABC and the Jeopardy! producers are to be commended for the way they rallied around Trebek and supported his desire to continue working until the end of his life, even as his health deteriorated. Their actions serve as a valuable lesson for employers and illuminate the importance of three key principles:
Don’t make assumptions about your employees’ desire or ability to continue working. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employees with cancer often face discrimination because of their supervisors’ and coworkers’ misperceptions about their ability to work during and after the treatments. Even when the prognosis is excellent, some employers expect a person diagnosed with cancer will take long absences from work or be unable to focus on the job duties.
Generally, you may ask an employee about his cancer or other disabling condition when you have a reasonable belief he won’t be able to perform the job functions safely. In addition, you may inquire about the person’s condition to the extent the information is necessary to: