How do you know when it’s time to tell your boss about your chronic illness?
I got this question in my email today (I added the bold):
“At what point, if ever, do I need to tell my employer I have a chronic illness? In the past, I’ve always gone with the philosophy of not mentioning […]

QUESTION: What do a farmer and a job hunting person have in common?
ANSWER: They both have to spread more seeds than they can ever use in the hope that some will sprout.
A client, L, emailed me asking my opinion if she should go to a career expo, sponsored by Women for Hire.
L asked: […]

In the past few weeks, I’ve “traveled” out of town twice: a short business trip and a longer vacation. And again I was reminded of my disabilities and their affect on what I do and how I do it. The take away message?

Gotta’ be clear with myself about what […]

What do you do when you see “it” coming: Continue to push too hard and you could bring on an “attack” or a “flare” — but your team or client is relying on you to keep going?  Ring any bells?
My client, P, lives with some […]

Figuring out whether to talk about your chronic illness to your boss seems to be the top issue that people wonder about. At least that’s what most journalists think. I’ve found that every time I am interviewed, inevitably one of the first questions I’m asked is : Should a person disclose? […]

Huh? Are you wondering it you landed at the wrong blog? I’ll bet you are.
And here are two reasons why this is an example of communications gone wrong:
1.The headline has nothing to do with why you came to this blog - to read about work and chronic […]

A client who lives with MS told me that he wishes he was Clark Kent. With the slip of a cape, he’d become his real self: Superman! And then his left leg work wouldn’t drag, his right hand would grip properly and he’d walk to his car minus the cane.
No one would have […]

My good friend’s “baby”, Jimmy, got a diagnosis today of ulcerative colitis.   Jimmy has always been a strong guy — and he’s lost 15 pounds in the past month!  He told his mother that for the first time in his life, he felt like he was drowning.
The “good news” is […]

I’d take a guess that if you’re reading this, you live with some chronic issue - pain, fatigue, limbs or brain that doesn’t work right. Have you noticed how often people leave a conversation with, “Happy Thanksgiving”? Probably more times than you can count.
I know I find […]

A reader emailed because she’s trying to figure out if and how to tell co-workers about her new chronic disease diagnosis. She wondered if I still offer “Free consultations”. (By the way, check out my newly designed website — with new resources!)
I don’t because it doesn’t offer enough value and since I can’t […]