I’ve noticed a trend. Over the past few years, the number of inquiries that I get from people looking for help with their career has increased. But until recently the mix was pretty equal between the currently employed and unemployed.
Over the past year, the requests I get are overwhelmingly from the unemployed. I’m wondering: what’s that about?
Yes, the unemployment rate is high. But most of the people who write have been unemployed for a year or more. Nothing about my online presence – my website, my content or the press I get – has changed. Trying to learn more, I checked out another career/illness site, the Cancer and Careers website (see my most recent suggestions to a nurse returning to work and requesting accommodations). The questions seem to reflect a demanding and inflexible workplace.
Clearly, a declining economy puts strain on employers to get more from employees. Are employers cutting staff back and taking advantage of workers with few options? Does this lead people with illness to leave the workforce rather than risk asking for flexibility and accommodations? Do you see this happening?
When you’re already struggling with illness, it’s harder to see your options than your limitations. You lose hope that you’ll feel better again and be able to work. You become convinced that working is making you sicker and the best thing for you is unemployment.
But what you might not know or even believe is that bad health often doesn’t stay static. And, some jobs, supervisors and org culture are worse than others. Finally, once you leave the workforce and have gaps in your work history, it’s that much harder to return.
Why don’t people seek help to stay employed? Why not “look” before you leap out?
FYI – My book, Women Work and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! got a nice review from a working mom on the blog Living It Loving It.
Judith Wilson Burkes says
Rosalind,
In this environment of sustained unemployment and economic downturn, there are many people who have been unemployed for 1+ years. I have more than one or two friends who have almost or reached the 2 year mark. Their numbers are increasing as well.
I agree with you that anyone working with a chronic illness should ask for help, but the realities of this job market is that it is non tipped in favor of the worker, but the employer. They have a glut of resumes for a limited amount of available positions. The current staff is asked to do more with less.
For anyone who does not feel that their work environment would support their requests, this can become a very stressful position.
I recently attended a panel discussion for HR and Diversity Managers. One such manager let me know that they were not even collecting demographics on their workers with disabilities. It was a very touchy subject for which no policies had been created, and since no one was self-identifying, the subject continued to be untouched. Out of the whole room, the subject of workers with disabilities was brushed over.
For many, it is into this environment that someone with a chronic condition walks, wondering whether they should ask for accommodations or not.
Rosalind says
You’re SO right about the negative environment. I honestly didn’t mean that people should seek help within their organization without getting guidance about how to do this. I’m wondering why people don’t look for people, like me – and other coaches – who can help them navigate. Just like healthy people who are struggling with their jobs get help. It seems to me that getting career help while you’re still working makes more sense than waiting until you’re desperate and unemployed for two years.
Jason Reid says
Hi Rosalind,
I think one of the biggest problems that I see, at least in my corner of the world (Canada), is that the services of a chronic illness coach or expert just isn’t thought about by most people.
A conversation I had recently with an insurance benefit person indicated that her company would love to offer CI coaches through their employee assistance plans, but there were not enough of these coaches to go around to make it viable.
If companies are not offering this service to their employees, many people may not even realize there are experts in this field until it is too late and they are unemployed. I know that happened to me.
Rosalind says
Jason – I completely agree. It’s too bad that people don’t seek this more and that there aren’t more offering this. From my experience working in this, it can make a critical difference.
Jennifer says
I am still working and I would not ask my HR for any accomodations as I think they are corrupt and the mountain of crap I’d have to navigate on top of my current insane workload and communicating what I can and can not do in a structured way to all stakeholders would definitely defeat the purpose of asking for an accomodation.
Also, at my company I know they are tracking and analyzing employees health expenses and medications in an effort to manage costs and shift the expense burden on employees with chronic illnesses. I was actually inadvertently canceled from my health insurance coverage because I might qualify for Medicare. Big brother is watching and he’s not my friend unfortunately.