The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Millions of Australians have a chronic illness. So why aren’t employers accommodating them?

  • Written by Peter Ghin, Research fellow, Future Of Work Lab, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Melbourne
Millions of Australians have a chronic illness. So why aren’t employers accommodating them?

More than 20 million Australians[1] have at least one long-term health condition, 63%[2] of whom are in the workforce.

The causes of chronic illness[3] are complex and are often unconnected to a person’s work. But at times, the continued exposure to work stressors can lead to or exacerbate chronic health conditions including musculoskeletal disorders[4], heart disease[5], anxiety[6] and depression[7].

Our research[8] found 73% of people believed their chronic illness was at least partially caused or worsened by their job. Almost one in five people believed work entirely caused or worsened their illness.

These findings accord with data from Safe Work Australia[9] which indicates health conditions (particularly mental health) account for an increasing proportion of serious workers’ compensation claims.

Read more: The impact of work on well-being: 6 factors that will affect the future of work and health inequalities[10]

Our research also found[11] people with chronic illness were likely to report various forms of workplace discrimination, including being rejected from a job (63%), being treated unfairly in the workplace (65%) and harassment (52%).

So what are employees getting so wrong? And what are the solutions to improving working conditions for people with chronic illnesses?

Employers’ responsibilities have grown

In 2022, Safe Work Australia[12] updated its work health and safety regulations to include specific guidelines on the management of “psychosocial” hazards in the workplace.

A psychosocial hazard[13] is anything that can cause psychological and physical harm, including the design or management of work and workplace interactions or behaviours.

Common examples include job demands, low job control, poor support, lack of role clarity, exposure to traumatic events, harassment and bullying. The failure to eliminate or minimise psychosocial hazards can cause work-related stress, resulting in poor health outcomes for workers.

Waiter sets table
Employers have an obligation to manage psychosocial hazards. Chuttersnap/Unsplash[14]

Organisations need to improve their engagement and management of chronically ill workers to meet their legal obligations.

How employers are getting it wrong

Few organisations have sophisticated approaches to managing employees who are chronically ill[15]. And managers often feel ill-equipped[16] to effectively support chronically ill employees.

Instead, there is a tendency to rely on outmoded human resource and occupational health and safety systems originally designed to accommodate short-term absences and acute illnesses.

Return-to-work[17] policies tend to fall short because they assume a phased and linear return to full working capacity. This is often not the case for people with chronic illness, whose symptoms may be degenerative or fluctuate over time.

Chronically ill workers are rarely considered[18] in organisational diversity and inclusion policies and procedures. At best, they may be incorporated into umbrella disability policies, which can be problematic as people with chronic illness do not necessarily self-identify as “disabled”[19].

Many chronically ill workers fly under the radar. This is partly because organisations don’t collect this data but it’s also due to the often invisible nature of chronic illness. Someone living with conditions such as long COVID or endometriosis, for example, may present as unimpaired to their colleagues. However, they will often be dealing with complex, fluctuating symptoms that are largely invisible at work.

Workers may also choose not to disclose[20] their illness due to fears of being stigmatised, treated differently, or passed over for promotion. Our research[21] on leaders living with chronic illness found only 18% fully disclosed their illness to their employer. Almost three-quarters of leaders with chronic illness (73%) deliberately hid their illness at work.

Read more: Should you tell your boss about your mental illness? Here's what to weigh up[22]

What can employers do?

Here are three ways employers can begin to proactively meet their obligations to workers with chronic illness.

1. Make adjustments

Workers with chronic illness sometimes experience fluctuations in their condition which can impact their ability to complete tasks or meet deadlines. It may be necessary for managers to consider sensitively discussing a revised work schedule, the delegation of time-sensitive tasks, or discuss implementing reasonable adjustments to improve workflow.

These can be challenging conversations, but engaging with them directly means employers can allocate the resources they need to meet their business objectives, while also reducing employee experiences of overwhelm.

2. Accept reasonable requests

Workers with chronic illness may require reasonable adjustments, such as flexible working, to enable them to perform to the best of their ability.

Take these requests at face value and minimise the administrative hurdles associated with approving such accommodations. Failing to do so is likely to erode trust, entrench feelings of not being supported and increase an employee’s psychological distress.

Woman puts sticky notes on whiteboard
Accepting reasonable requests will make employers feel supported. Jason Goodman/Unsplash[23]

3. Train managers

Managers may sometimes deny a request for a reasonable adjustment based on the belief that this creates a precedent for all team members. Decisions like these can compound feelings of stress, as they may be experienced as a lack of procedural fairness by employees living with chronic illness.

With appropriate training, managers are more likely to recognise that chronically ill workers are generally not seeking “special treatment”, but ways to work more effectively within their changed capacities.

By recognising the value of employees of all abilities, and proactively and systematically addressing the needs of their chronically ill workforce, employers can minimise extended workplace absences and improve the productivity of their workforce.

Read more: Symptoms of menopause can make it harder to work. Here's what employers should be doing[24]

References

  1. ^ More than 20 million Australians (www.abs.gov.au)
  2. ^ 63% (www.abs.gov.au)
  3. ^ causes of chronic illness (www.health.gov.au)
  4. ^ musculoskeletal disorders (www.ccohs.ca)
  5. ^ heart disease (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  6. ^ anxiety (bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com)
  7. ^ depression (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  8. ^ Our research (apo.org.au)
  9. ^ Safe Work Australia (data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au)
  10. ^ The impact of work on well-being: 6 factors that will affect the future of work and health inequalities (theconversation.com)
  11. ^ also found (apo.org.au)
  12. ^ Safe Work Australia (www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au)
  13. ^ psychosocial hazard (www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au)
  14. ^ Chuttersnap/Unsplash (unsplash.com)
  15. ^ managing employees who are chronically ill (link.springer.com)
  16. ^ ill-equipped (hbr.org)
  17. ^ Return-to-work (theconversation.com)
  18. ^ rarely considered (www.researchgate.net)
  19. ^ self-identify as “disabled” (chronicillnessinclusion.org.uk)
  20. ^ not to disclose (hbr.org)
  21. ^ Our research (fbe.unimelb.edu.au)
  22. ^ Should you tell your boss about your mental illness? Here's what to weigh up (theconversation.com)
  23. ^ Jason Goodman/Unsplash (unsplash.com)
  24. ^ Symptoms of menopause can make it harder to work. Here's what employers should be doing (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/millions-of-australians-have-a-chronic-illness-so-why-arent-employers-accommodating-them-219612

The Times Features

Best Deals on Home Furniture Online

Key Highlights Discover the best deals on high-quality outdoor furniture online. Transform your outdoor space into a stylish and comfortable oasis. Explore a wide range of d...

Discover the Best Women's Jumpers for Every Season

Key Highlights Explore lightweight jumpers for spring and summer, ensuring breathability and ease. Wrap up warm with cozy wool jumpers for the chilly autumn and winter season...

Uncover the Elegance of Gorgeous Diamond Tennis Necklaces

Key Highlights Diamond tennis necklaces are a timeless piece of jewelry that exudes elegance and sophistication. They feature a continuous line of brilliant-cut diamonds, cre...

Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which Is Better for You?

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, two of the most common options are dental implants and dentures. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing between them ...

What Neck Pain Really Means (And Why It’s More Than Just Poor Posture)

Neck pain is often brushed off as something temporary — a tight spot after a long day at the desk or a poor night’s sleep. But when the discomfort keeps returning, it could be a ...

The Work of Gosha Rubchinskiy: Fashion, Culture, and Youth

From Designer to Cultural Architect Gosha Rubchinskiy is not just a fashion designer—he's a cultural force. Born in Moscow in 1984, Rubchinskiy began his career in fashion in t...

Times Magazine

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

Using Countdown Timers in Email: Do They Really Increase Conversions?

In a world that's always on, where marketers are attempting to entice a subscriber and get them to convert on the same screen with one email, the power of urgency is sometimes the essential element needed. One of the most popular ways to create urg...

Types of Software Consultants

In today's technology-driven world, businesses often seek the expertise of software consultants to navigate complex software needs. There are several types of software consultants, including solution architects, project managers, and user experienc...

CWU Assistive Tech Hub is Changing Lives: Win a Free Rollator Walker This Easter!

🌟 Mobility. Independence. Community. All in One. This Easter, the CWU Assistive Tech Hub is pleased to support the Banyule community by giving away a rollator walker. The giveaway will take place during the Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt & Ma...

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

LayBy Shopping