How to Stay Afloat at Work While Battling an Illness

From keeping up with doctor’s appointments to dealing with daily fatigue, staying afloat at work can sometimes seem like an impossible task. Many people continue to work through their illness because they either can afford to take time off or they don’t want to be without health insurance. In fact, a recent study found that 1 in 3 cancer patients experienced what’s known as job lock—inability to leave a job because of the fear of losing their health benefits.

While everyone’s situation is different, it’s important to be aware of your rights as an employee, as there are many laws in place that allow your employer to give you time off or grant you reasonable work accommodations depending on your health issues.

If working with an illness is starting to affect your job performance, open a line of communication with your manager. Once you communicate your needs to your team, they’ll be able to help you come up with a reasonable solution on how they can make your job easier, despite having an illness.

To help you understand how to communicate with your colleagues and your rights as an employee, check out the visual guide below for more tips on to successfully continue working with an illness.