In honor of Sun Awareness Week, it’s time to prioritise protecting outdoor workers from the harmful effects of sun exposure—while empowering skin cancer survivors to confidently return to work with Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass. 

Sunlight: A Group 1 carcinogen that deserves greater recognition.  

Each year, up to one in five cancers diagnosed globally is caused by exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens—including ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Worldwide, more than 1.6 billion people—roughly a quarter of the global workforce—are regularly exposed to UV radiation at work, doubling their risk of skin cancer. In countries like the UK, where skin cancer remains the most common form of cancer, that risk is even more pronounced. As such, workplace sun exposure is an urgent concern for employers, who have a duty of care to protect employees from occupational hazards—regardless of their source. 

Although sunlight is often perceived as a harmless necessity, the dangers it poses cannot be ignored. Employers play a vital role in protecting their workforce—and in enabling individuals to protect themselves—from the sun’s harmful rays. With the potential to prevent up to 90 percent of all skin cancer cases, this is a significant opportunity for employers to take meaningful action in response to rising cancer rates and growing demands for better workplace health support. 

Shining a Light on Sun Safety at Work 

As with many other cancers, ignorance remains one of the greatest drivers of skin cancer risk. This includes a lack of awareness around basic sun protection measures (e.g., applying sunscreen, seeking shade, monitoring the UV index, and wearing appropriate clothing), poor understanding about the cumulative and often subtle damage caused by sun exposure, failure to recognize the early signs of skin cancer, and an underestimation of the role early detection plays in mitigating cancer risk and improving health outcomes. 

Regular use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher is one of the simplest and most effective methods individuals can adopt to reduce their risk of skin cancer. Yet research shows that up to three-quarters of outdoor workers rarely or never apply sunscreen at work. Alarmingly, these same workers are also more likely to believe in myths such as the idea that tanning prevents sunburn, or that it is inherently safe. Consequently, outdoor workers are twice as likely to suffer sunburn—often severe enough to cause blisters—substantially increasing their skin cancer risk. 

Given the workplace’s role as a key environment where healthy behaviors are learned and reinforced, employers have a responsibility to challenge stigma and misinformation related to sun exposure and skin cancer risk. Specifically, organizing on-site health and wellness events can be an especially engaging way to deliver crucial information and initiate meaningful conversations about sun safety at work.  

By organizing an event around skin health and inviting community experts to attend, employers can create an approachable, informative experience that encourages proactive skin care while reducing barriers to action. A successful event might include: 

• Inviting dermatologists and skincare specialists to give talks, lead workshops, or provide demonstrations on effective sunscreen use, protective clothing, and identifying early signs of cancer 

• Setting up ‘skin check stations’ where employees can receive basic screenings and learn how to perform self-examinations 

• Having insurance representatives available to answer questions about dermatology coverage and help employees navigate care options  

• Providing printed materials and take-home resources with practical tips on sun safety, how to perform self-exams, and when to seek professional support 

• Distributing wellness kits or ‘swag bags’ containing sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and other sun-safe items 

Providing access to wellness coaching is another valuable way for employers to support healthy lifestyle changes and reinforce sun safety. By offering tailored advice and practical strategies for incorporating sun protection into daily routines, employers can help ensure that these crucial habits aren’t neglected amidst work and personal demands. 

Ultimately, when employees are empowered to practice sun safety consistently and correctly, their risk of skin cancer can be cut by up to 50 percent. Furthermore, encouraging routine skin checks and prompt medical care can also dramatically reduce the risk of severe disease, as early-stage skin cancer boasts a near-100 percent 5-year survival rate when detected early. 

Helping Survivors Move Forward: Illuminating the Path to a Successful Return to Work with Cancer Care Compass 

But, of course, even the most rigorous preventive strategies cannot entirely eliminate the risk of skin cancer—or its presence in the workplace. As it stands, at least one in five individuals will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime—with that figure increasing year by year. 

For this reason, supporting skin cancer survivors’ return to work is just as important as preventing new cases. Thanks to the high survival rates and relatively straightforward treatment options, many people with skin cancer continue working during treatment or return shortly afterwards. Nevertheless, around one in four survivors take time off to focus on their treatment or recovery.  

To help survivors return with confidence, employers need look no further than Return to Work: Cancer Care Compass—Workplace Options’ global, inclusive programme offering holistic support to survivors and the managers guiding their transition back to work. 

Comprising emotional counseling, vocational coaching, and manager consultations, the Cancer Care Compass programme is tailored to address the psychological and practical challenges of returning to work. At its core, the Coordinators of Occupational Reintegration and Adaptation (CORAT) provide personalized, ongoing support to employees and their managers to oversee the reintegration process while ensuring employees’ complete recovery. 

All told, key features of the program include: 

• Personalized recovery plans for restoring physical, psychological, and professional wellbeing 

• Fortified emotional and professional resilience to support long-term recovery 

• Dedicated support for managers, including a specialized toolkit and unlimited consultations 

• Strengthened organizational commitment to employee wellbeing, psychological safety, and DEIB.  

At Workplace Options, we recognize that even highly treatable cancers like skin cancer can leave an indelible mark on a person’s confidence, wellbeing, and sense of control. Feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, or diminished self-confidence are common—and the fear of recurrence is real. But with the right support, these battles, too, may be overcome. 

Over 90 percent of cancer survivors say that workplace support plays a key role in their recovery and overall wellbeing. By prioritising prevention and reintegration, employers can create a truly supportive work environment—where all employees feel safe, valued, and able to shine.  

Ready to create a sun-safe and cancer-free workplace in 2025? Contact us today to learn more about how Workplace Options can help, and how Cancer Care Compass puts survivors on the path to healing and balance, so they can thrive.