Every facet of your life is affected by a chronic illness.Especially hard work.Explaining a chronic illness to an employer is important since most people spend most of the week at work.When it comes to a chronic illness, follow these steps to maintain an honest business relationship with your boss.
Step 1: If you should be upfront.
If your chronic illness does not affect your job, you don't need to tell your boss about it during the hiring interview.There are a few people you should talk to if it has developed while you are working.Start with your doctor.Your doctor can tell you how much you should reveal at work and what accommodations you need.Find out if your company has a health representative.The people in this position are experienced at helping employees with chronic conditions, and they can tell you who you need to inform about your illness.Tell the human resources department.If your chronic illness requires special treatment like extra breaks, a different work schedule, and so on, you don't need to approach HR.Inform employees who work with you, including your supervisor, after you tell HR about your special needs.You can approach these co-workers through email or in person, but your HR representative will tell you how to do it.
Step 2: Tell only what you are comfortable with.
Remember that you only need to give your employer information about how your condition may affect you on the job, whether during the hiring interview or after hiring if a new condition has developed.Unless you want to, you don't need to reveal any details about your treatments.Federal laws protect anything you reveal to your employer about your chronic disease.Allow your employer to ask questions as they please, but remember that they only need to know the information that will make a difference on the job.
Step 3: Request time off when you need it.
It is important that you only do as much as you can.If you need to be out for a period of time due to your illness, tell your employer.Your place of employment is required to work with you on appropriate accommodations for your illness if it does not interfere with the quality of work for which you were hired.Discuss the option of a long-term medical leave with your employer if it would be better for your health.If you start to miss too many days at work, you should look into filing for the Family and Medical Leave Act.If you miss too many days of work without an explanation your company may not be able to help you.The act is called the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Step 4: Do you know if your illness qualifies as a disability?
The Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't have a list of specific disabilities.The law states that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against by employers.The ADA states that qualified individuals with disabilities can perform the essential functions of the position.
Step 5: Your employer should be aware of your needs.
The ADA requires your employer to make adjustments to help employees with disabilities.Let your employer know if there are any environmental changes they can make to improve your condition and productivity.If you have a chronic back condition or have an enclosed office, you may be able to get a different chair.It is the same for working a modified schedule.If working fewer hours each day would improve your situation or if working more hours for fewer days would be better, make it known.Discuss the possibilities with your employer.
Step 6: Provide your boss with information.
If your boss asks for information from your doctor, give it to him or her.It makes you look credible if you are prepared with documentation.If you want to understand your illness more fully, you should ask your doctor to write a letter to your employer.If you can find research that explains how your illness is considered a disability, you should give it to your boss.
Step 7: Discuss sick leave with your supervisor.
Employees can take up to 12 weeks of medical leave for a number of reasons.As soon as you realize you need time off, you should see HR for the two forms that are needed.Employees can't file for FMLA until they have worked at least 1,250 hours at their company.If an employer decides not to give you sick leave for a time beyond what you have earned, you can't dispute it.Employees who work for employers with fewer than 50 employees are not eligible.
Step 8: If you see any abuse, report it.
If you feel that your employer is treating you unfairly, report it to your supervisor.Human Resources is the place to go if this doesn't work.There are laws to protect you in this situation.You might need proof that you were mistreated.Before meeting with an employer, ask if you can record the session on a device, or perhaps dialogue with your boss through email so that the interaction is captured in writing.The job of an employee with a disability is to perform the essential parts of their job.If you can't perform these parts because of your chronic illness, you should ask for time off so that you are protected by the ADA.
Step 9: Lower-stress jobs are available at your workplace.
If you are hired for a job when you have a chronic illness, you may not notice that some tasks are hard to complete.Talk to your employer about changing positions if this happens.If you were hired for an active position that is making your chronic condition worse, you should present your paperwork skills to your boss and request to be moved into an administrative position.The opposite can also be tried.If you have carpal tunnel and typing at a desk all day is causing increased pain, present your skills and ask to be transferred into a position that does not stress the wrists, then you should do this.
Step 10: You can find a different job.
The ADA cannot protect you once you lose the ability to perform the essential functions of the job for which you were hired, so it may be time to look for a different job.When your chronic illness flares up, inquire about jobs for which you can perform the essential functions.If you believe that your chronic illness will interfere with the essential parts of the position that were listed in the job advertisement, let the employer know.Don't be embarrassed of your limitations.Employers will believe in you if you are confident and good at what you do.If you can perform the tasks they advertised for, they won't discount you because of your illness.
Step 11: You should check with your advocacy group.
There are organizations that support individuals with chronic illnesses.Many organizations exist to help people with chronic pain.The Invisible Disabilities Association exists to help people when they develop chronic illnesses and don't know where to begin finding assistance.
Step 12: There is a file for disability.
You can apply for Social Security disability insurance if you can't work because of an illness.You have to prove that you can't get hired at any job.If you are approved, you will receive a monthly stipend based on your lifetime earnings.You can get Medicare if you have disability insurance for two years.If you aren't working and your income from the disability insurance is below a certain level, you will most likely qualify for Medicaid, which is free or low-cost health insurance for those covered.