How to Manage Work When You Have a Chronic Illness

How to Manage Work When You Have a Chronic IllnessHow to Manage Work When You Have a Chronic Illness Chronic illness can shake your world. One moment youre perfectly healthy, enjoying life. Then, the next moment, youre seriously ill and struggling to do the simplest tasks. Activities that used to come easily now require careful thought and planning. Life activities you once took for granted, such as breathing, eating, or walking, are now difficult.You once worried about work-life balance , but now your primary concern is making it from one day to the next without experiencing a serious health crisis. Laws like the ADA and FMLA are designed to protect employees from being fired due to disability or medical reasons , but the reality is that it can still be a challenge to maintain employment and still take good care of yourself. Yet many chronically ill workers who are facing serious health issues need to keep working due to the financial burden that comes along with t heir massive medical bills and the need for health insurance.If youre facing this dilemma, were here to help. Heres how elend to get fired when you have a chronic illness.You dont have to tell your supervisor about your illness if you dont want to. However, if your illness is beginning to affect your work, youll need to speak up at some point. If your work quality or production level starts to slide, the last thing you want is for your boss to think youre being lazy or you dont care about your work.In this case, its a good idea to meet with your boss and let him or her know you have a chronic illness. Its up to you how much detail you give.Although your boss might respond with concern and empathy, you should also have a chat with your human resources representative. Its important to make sure someone else in authority is aware of your illness - this way, youll have an easier time defending yourself if a misunderstanding arises, and your job is suddenly on the line .Is your work schedule wearing you down? If the way youre working right now binnenseems to be negatively impacting your health, its time to make a change. Ask your supervisor if he or she could make adjustments that would help keep you healthy and get your work done.Perhaps you could request to work from home a few days a week. If doctors appointments have become difficult to schedule because of strict office hours, ask whether you could change your work schedule, so you can get all your appointments in.Although many employers would do their best to accommodate a chronically ill employee, you could run into resistance. Some bosses will not be eager to assist you, especially if you dont look visibly ill. If youve been denied an accommodation that is necessary to do your job, speak with your human resources manager. Tell him or her about your situation and why you need the accommodation. Some illnesses are considered disabilities, so it might be your legal right to receive the adjustment. If youre unsure, consult with an employment lawyer.Just about every office has at least one bully . When you have a chronic illness and receive accommodations, you could become a target. Some co-workers might get jealous and feel like youre unfairly receiving special treatment. If they are not aware of your health status, their jealousy and resentment could put you at risk for bullying.This type of situation can occur when a chronically ill worker doesnt look visibly ill or disabled. Receiving a modified work arrangement for an invisible disability or illness, such as asthma, could make others in the workplace become resentful or think youre exaggerating your illness.Consequently, others might complain about you to your boss and pick on you for minor work issues. Be on guard for this behavior, and document everything that goes on.You wont perform at your best level if you dont take good care of yourself. Eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep , and follow your doctors orders. Also k eep track of how youre feeling from day to day, and make sure to keep in regular contact with your health team. Dont ignore any nagging symptoms in favor of getting a work assignment done.As soon as you start to feel sick, address the issue, and get the treatment you need. Delaying care could cause complications at work. Waiting to see a doctor could mean more days out of work and a longer recovery time.Dont assume everything is OK because your boss has been quiet. He or she could be waiting to talk until review time. Instead of waiting, your best bet is to have a regular check-in meeting to make sure youre still performing well. Ask your boss whether your work is satisfactory and whether there is anything you need to do to improve. This way, you wont run into surprises that could have been avoided had you checked in earlier.Know you are more than just your illness. Work and personal life can be very hard when the people identify you so closely with your illness. However, its impo rtant to remember you are separate from the disease youre battling. Managing a chronic illness can take a great toll on your sense of self-worth , so its important to remind yourself you have value. And its important to do your best to maintain your self-esteem, so you dont hinder your career advancement due to a lack of confidence .Resist the urge to shrink into the shadows and fall below the radar. Your financial future could depend on it. People with low self-esteem often try to remain under the radar screen because they dont want to be noticed, but especially in this economy, that is the wrong thing to do, Lois P. Frankel, author and founder of Corporate Coaching International, told Forbes.Managing - or more accurately, battling - a chronic illness is physically and mentally taxing. It will be very important that you have someone to talk to regularly. A mental health professional can help you work through all of the ups and downs that come along with balancing sickness and a demanding work load . Also, keep close friends and family in the loop.Youll need as much support as you can get. Having a trusted support circle will reduce the chances of you having a meltdown at work when things get tough. Its OK to be sad or angry about what is happening to you, but dealing with those emotions in healthy ways is key.There are tools available to help you thrive in your work and personal life while managing a chronic illness. You can still have a successful career even though you arent as healthy as you once were. Here are some resources that can assist you with your journey.This article was originally published on The Cheat Sheet .