From Dow Jones & Company:

Summary:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization, due to complications from prostate cancer treatment, left his deputy director running the Pentagon from a beach vacation in Puerto Rico. U.S. lawmakers criticized the lack of disclosure and an employment lawyer emphasized that being transparent about health problems at work provides employees with legal protection and can foster a compassionate workplace environment. U.S. employment law offers protections for eligible workers requiring medical leave and accommodations for a disability at work, but employees need to share at least some information about their health condition with their employer to be protected. Building workplace trust requires an organization’s culture to support employees facing health challenges, emphasizing the necessity of an open, communicative, and compassionate work environment.



Read more: Lloyd Austin hid his cancer. What happens if you hide illness from your boss?