Boss Has Cancer Written by

¶ … Boss Has Cancer" written by Joann Lublin discusses different cases and conditions that result when senior level employees suffer from cancer. The article explains in detail the positive and negative sides of disclosing the disease and states opinions of several personals that have shared their experience. Joann Lublin starts the article with the case of David B. Fischer, the CEO of Greif Inc., who disclosed his cancer when was offered the position of Vice President in 2004.

Due to his fair and honest attitude, he was selected by the company instead of being rejected, despite of the fact that he had very poor prognosis and less than five years survival time. The article raises questions regarding whether a boss or senior personal should disclose his cancer or remain silent. Many senior level executives in U.S.

that are cancer survivors continue their career after or along with the treatment; but they are always confused if they should open their secret of going through from such a tough time. At one side, these patients consider it important to disclose cancer because they know that they play strong roles in the success of the company; while on the other side they fear that they will be perceived weak and will lose power and control.

The question raised by the author in this article is of critical importance as senior personals play an active role in the company. They play significant role in achieving the primary goal of the company, which according to financial theory is to maximize the value of the firm that ultimately results in increased shareholder equity (Viallet, 1). The CEO or senior personal makes important decisions on behalf of shareholders of the firm.

His right decisions increase the value of the stock and vice versa, his wrong decisions can bring huge losses for the company and its shareholders. Therefore, the senior managers work with the key goal of increasing the value of the shareholder's equity. The implications of this goal are the increase in the wealth of the depressed shareholder, which can be calculated by the price of the stock.

All other goals of senior management, which include delivering high quality products, serving customers etc., are legitimate goals that are actually achieved to increase the shareholder's equity. In my opinion, shareholders are the owners of the company as they play important roles in financing and operating the business. They deserve to be given importance and value in all kinds of decision-making and important matters of the company.

If the CEO or any upper level management personal is diagnosed with cancer; than it is the right of the shareholders to be acknowledged. Hiding it from shareholders will result in confusion and misunderstandings. Disclosing cancer to shareholders is also important because even if the cancer is at an early stage; it needs to be treated immediately through surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. These treatments make patient weak and look physically different from before. Secondly, he or she will also be absent from work for some time due to hospital visits.

Therefore, it is important to share this news with shareholders so that they can give a soft corner, emotional support and courage to their boss. As stated in the article, according to Kim Thiboldeaux, the president of Cancer Support Community; there are more than 12 million cancer survivors in U.S. Executives now easily disclose their disease and start working like before after their treatments.

Bradley and Bednarek also saw similar results in 2000, who found that 67% of the cancer survivors from their sample of 141 patients were employed at the time of diagnosis and were found working after.