Nobody expects that one day there may be a time when their health makes things like working difficult. We take it for granted that we will be able to continue to do the ordinary things we are used to. When a chronic illness occurs, then these everyday things become a challenge. Work still needs to be done especially if you rely on your job for your health insurance.
Managing a chronic illness is no easy feat. You will likely have hospital visits to deal with and juggle work and family responsibilities at the same time. There will also be days when you are not well enough to work, or when you have to ask for some accommodations to be able to continue to have a position. In this article, we will go over several ways that you can work while you have a chronic illness to deal with.
1 – Know your rights
Your illness may become a burden for your employer. If you are lucky enough to have a kind and compassionate boss then you can certainly make things work. However, an unscrupulous one might not want to deal with it and will seek ways to marginalize you until you quit. There are a number of reasons that this is not legal.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will give you a certain amount of protection but you do need to know what your rights are so you can stay protected. If you do feel like your rights are violated then you can talk to a worker’s rights attorney.
For instance, you have the right to take up to 90 days off to treat your illness without the risk of losing your job. During this time you can’t be fired as long as you have your paperwork in order.
You can also ask for reasonable accommodations that will allow you to be able to get the work done. Things like frequent breaks, or being able to work from home if the type of work allows for it are examples of reasonable accommodations.
2 – Prepare for sick days
There will be times when your illness is going to conflict with your work schedule. This can cause problems when it happens unexpectedly but there isn’t much you can do when that happens. However, if you know ahead of time that you will need to receive treatment or have a doctor’s visit scheduled then you need to make sure that you tell your boss ahead of time.
This allows you both to make arrangements so that work is not affected.
3 – Keep a balance
Although you don’t want to lose your job, your priority does need to be your health. Don’t try to overwork yourself in an effort to make sure that your boss is happy at the expense of your health. Find a way to make sure that you get the work done and are still able to take care of your illness.
