Managing Your Chronic Disease and Your Job – Infographic

Image by andreas160578 from Pixabay

Do you have a chronic disease?

If so, you are not alone. Chronic conditions affect the productivity of people at work; according to the CDC, the lost productivity resulting from the seven most prevalent conditions equals a staggering 3.7 trillion dollars. Those conditions include Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Employers can help employees with chronic diseases

in a number of ways, such as by promoting healthy activities at work. These activities may include health assessments and screenings; newsletters and other educational information about healthy lifestyles; reduced-rate gym memberships or an on-site gym; smoking cessation programs; standing desks; healthy snacks in break rooms and vending machines; and healthy, catered meals to employees.

These kinds of activities could help reduce health care costs while enhancing employee health and increasing productivity; they not only help staff who already have chronic conditions but can also help prevent their development in others.

If you are an employee with a chronic health condition,

recognize that your symptoms may affect you at work. Determine how you can address them, whether that means taking more frequent breaks, working from home some of the time, or managing your symptoms. Taking care of your overall health is essential. Consider whether you want to disclose your condition to your supervisor; while this step is not required, it may be beneficial.

If you want to learn more about how to manage your chronic disease at work, or if you work with people with chronic diseases and want to help, read on:

*Courtesy of gordonllp.com