Enfermedades catastróficas en el mundo laboral : historias de trabajadores diagnosticados con cáncer en una empresa pública de Guayaquil.

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the work experiences of employees diagnosed with cancer in a public sector company in Guayaquil during 2025, in order to propose strategies for improving the support provided by the human resources department. It was a qualitative study with a descriptive method and non-probability convenience sampling, in which interviews were conducted with a sample of five employees from a public sector company. The main results indicate that the employees reveal a duality in their relationship with the illness: relief (due to attending their therapies) and guilt (due to frequently requesting leave and having to set aside their work for short periods). This highlights an imbalance within the employee's work context, despite the fact that these rights to care for catastrophic illness are supported by national regulations.