Disclosure? The big question.
28Aug08
If you live with an invisible chronic illness, you probably find the question: When do I talk about it for the first time? — is on your mind, a lot. That would be true with any relationship but particularly at work - where performance is key.
When I wrote the chapter about disclosure for our book, Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease,: Keep Working, Girlfriend! , Joan and I talked for a long time about how we handled this differently in our lives - both personal and work. My tendency has always been to disclose immediately, particularly in the early years when I was really sick.
Read what Joan has to say about this on our book blog, Keep Working, Girlfriend!
Rosalind aka cicoach.com
This is a toughie, and I agree that there are no hard and fast rules.
RE Joan’s linked post — she raised the issue of telling the employer she’d possibly have to go on short term disability some time in the distant future. The working world has accustomed itself — albeit a little grudgingly — to the reality that women are pretty likely to take a few months maternity leave. Perhaps one day they’ll also accept that chronically ill employees can basically be dependable workers — but also need their occasional “time outs.”
I didn’t actually “disclose” till after I was hired at my last job. I felt I had proven myself working freelance for eighteen months before. But when I’d mentioned health limitations to other potential employers, it was like poison.
I find it an issue disclosing not just to employers, but to everyone!
Christina. Your last sentence said it all. People with chronic illness will be much more comfortable “disclosing” when everyone - personal acquaintances, first dates and new employers - are much more comfortable with the idea and reality of chronic illness.