Seminar: 7 Big Ideas for Regaining Power in the Workplace When Ill
Rosalind Joffe
Are you currently working, or considering working–and wondering how your illness fits into the big picture? Can you ever regain power in the workplace if you have been diagnosed with a chronic illness? What kinds of things should you disclose about your illness? How do you talk to your supervisor about things you may not be able to do? How do you avoid being “that sick person” in the workplace? Rosalind tackles all of these and more in this informative seminar.
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About Rosalind Joffe
Rosalind built on her own experience of living with chronic illnesses for 30 years, including multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis, when she founded cicoach.com. This career coaching firm is dedicated to helping professionals with chronic illness develop the skills they need to succeed in their careers. Rosalind Joffe is a recognized national expert on chronic illness and its impact on career. She is author of the book Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend!
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Rosalind’s book: Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend!
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Live with it.Don’t seek pity and believe me there is always someone worse off than you.That’s how i deal with my illness!
Thanks Adrian. Self pity doesn’t help, does it? I’ve found it useful to think that it could always be worse, as well. But not everyone finds that helpful so we each have to search for what keeps us out of the self pity hole.
@WorkWithIllness e-seminar on working with a chronic illness, as part of #invisibleillnessweek: http://t.co/7UeCixKY
Last November I resigned from position after the HR department express hesitation of renewing my FMLA. (Family Medical Leave Act) My work performance was also suffering. So, I resigned.
Regarding disclosure, with many companies requiring drug testing and/or physicals how would one, who suffers from a chronic illness, address that situation?
Hi Rona, I’m wondering why you left when they expressed hesitation? Was it because your performance was suffering? I’m assuming from your question that you’re currently looking for work.
I’m not a healthcare practitioner so I don’t know what medications show up in drug testing. Certainly many pain killers do. If your illness shows up on a blood test or physical, then it will not be your choice to disclose most likely. One thing to consider is it the company or the insurer requiring a drug test or physical? It might make a difference regarding your employer. But it sounds like you are concerned that this would show up and for that reason, you might want to think about how you would talk about this to prospective employers and when.
Best, Rosalind
Thank you for your response.
I left my job instead of being fired for poor work performance and that they weren’t going to extend my FMLA. I was exhausted, in poor physical and mental health so I made the best decision for myself and family.
As you mentioned in your seminar, not all employers are going to work with you. (at the time I was working at home full time)
At this time, I’m not looking for work but did want to know about disclosing illnesses and conditions to a possible employer, if my condition were to improve.