Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Arthritis Suffers Face Work Woes Others Don't See

People with arthritis face employment troubles not encountered by others without a chronic illness.

Many feel locked into their jobs because of limited career choices, stagnant promotional opportunities and the inability to find other health insurance coverage, because of pre-existing conditions. But there are strategies to reduce your chances of workplace problems, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

"Take responsibility for your work-related happiness," advised Greg Hatcher, chairman of the board of the Arthritis Foundation, Arkansas Chapter. "Address your employer's needs or concerns probatively while also ensuring the assistance or accommodations you need to maintain productivity and job satisfaction."

An article in Arthritis Today, the Arthritis Foundation's national consumer magazine, notes that you can reduce your chance of problems at the start by looking for a position that matches your physical capabilities.

Think of all the jobs you'd like to do with or without limitations from arthritis. Then focus on what limit-ations arthritis may bring and cross check the limitations with the responsibilities of the jobs you like.

"You may find there are many jobs you still can handle easily, while others can be handled with some modifications," said Hatcher. "There may be a few you need to eliminate as possibilities."

Whether or not to inform your employer about your arthritis depends on the requirement of the position. If arthritis limations are going to be relevant and obvious soon on the job, it may be more ne-cessary to bring your condition up.

If you are qualified for the position, but you or your employer find that physical limitations could affect job performance, the solution could be as simple as low-cost and easily make work-site accommo-dations. In fact, a recent study reported that out of 400 possible on-the-job accommodations, the average expense is only $121, and 69% of them cost nothing at all.

Of course, if an employer is unwilling to make accommodations or you believe you've been discriminated against because you have arthritis, legal recourse based on the Americans with Disabilities Act could be an option. Still to be determined, however, is appropriate health-care reform that will enable people with arthritis to more freely change employers without fear of losing their health insurance.

Meanwhile, to solve workplace problems associated with arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation suggests the following:

• Focus on job positions you can physically handle by determing exact tasks required and whether any tasks may be negotiable.

• Focus on what you can do to spotlight the productivity you bring.

• If your condition affects your performance, speak to your em-ployer and be prepared with suggestions for accommodations, such as shifting to flextime or modifying your station, so that all of the tasks can be done.

Contact the Arthritis Foundation for more information about arthritis and resources to help you cope with the disease or maintain job satis-faction by calling 1-800-482- 8858.

The mission of the Arthritis Foundation if to fund research to find the cures for and preventions of arthritis and to improve the quality of life for people who have arthritis.