Why isn't Career Coaching for employees with chronic illness part of wellness programs?

Speaking of the value of wellness coaching and health coaching (both hot topics these days – have you noticed????),  why not career coaching for people with chronic illness?  Read this post, Curing Healthcare,  Workplace Wellness Programs: Motivating Employees to Live Healthy,  — it’s got interesting statistics showing that these programs actually improve the bottom line! 

While you’re at it, take a look at this article in The Wall Street Journal: Wall Street Journal article—Wellness Programs May Face Legal Tests: Plans That Penalize Unhealthy Workers Could Get Tighter Rules.  “It discusses the US Department of Labor’s decision to curtail the ability of employers to motivate workers to kick unhealthy habits by making health insurance more expensive for unhealthy workers than for their colleagues. ” (quoted from the curing healthcare blog) 

Am I being paranoid when I worry that this can lead to bad outcomes for the chronically employed workers?

Getting back to career coaching as a wellness intervention ….  I can’t tell you how many people tell me that they wish they had met me BEFORE they left their jobs  — or stopped working.  I do too.  (See my own post on choosing work vs ssdi on my blog, KeepWorkingGirlfriend). 

A “short term intervention” or on-spot  could be just enough to help people improve how to talk about their illness with people at work,  plan for the unpredictable, and how to think about work now that health is a factor.  

FYI – I have to tell you that my Guidebook series, Career Thrive,  is the place to start – and a small investment for the feeling of knowing what you’re doing is in your best interest.

What do you wish your employer offered to help you keep working with chronic illness? 

FYI!  The  January pain blogging carnival  is up.  I know  — not exaclyt an “upbeat” sound to it but I’ve found that these bloggers have some cooooool   ideas.  Check it out.  Speaking of cool – my client LG in Minnesota told me it’s windchill factor of -35F today!  So,   hoping you all in the mid west are finding ways to stay WARM!)  

Rosalind