People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who continue with their work tend to do better on the whole than those who do not. This may include a better quality of life, professional and personal growth, have access to health insurance and even manage their better disease.
Under the Americans with disabilitities act, employers are required to provide reasonable housing to allow workers to do their job. But it is your responsibility, as an employee, to guide your employer in the needs of your individual.
If you need accommodation, you will have to reveal that you have a medical condition. You should not necessarily say that you have SPs if you do not wish. You may be able to say that you have a neurological condition.
However, “complete disclosure can have many advantages,” said Stephanie George, principal director of the MS Navigator services at the National MS Society. “He can open the communication line, provide education to your employer and allow you to speak more openly about how your symptoms change,” she says.
You will probably need to educate your employer on MS, and you will have to describe the individual symptoms you have, whether physical or cognitive, for which you need accommodation. In this way, you and your employer can decide what types of accommodation will allow you to do your job better, while keeping you as healthy and mentally as possible.
Here are some of the things you will have to communicate to your employer and some of the most common types of accommodation, although there are hundreds of different types of accommodation you can ask for.
1. Ms affect everyone differently
The representative or the human resources manager to whom you are talking about can know a bit of MS, but it is important to help them understand that MS can affect each person differently, depending on where inflammation and damage has occurred in your central nervous system. They can be aware of some of the visible symptoms, but MS is also delivered with many invisible symptoms, such as fatigue, numbness, tingling, vision and cognitive challenges.
You may have to describe how it is uniquely affected. You just need to disclose symptoms that require accommodation, explains George. For example, if heat intolerance is a problem for you, but that it does not happen in your air -conditioned office, you don’t need to mention it.
2. Symptoms of MS can change from one day to the next
It is important to explain that your needs can change over time. MS Flares is unpredictable, and it is important that your employer understands it.
“If your employer knows that you have this condition that can lead to an unpredictable situation, this can help you prepare for it,” said Sarah Danen, Licsw, director of the Ms. Navigator service at the National MS Society. “The key is communication: you do not want to let them suspend; They must know where you are and what you plan to do, ”she says.
Part of your accommodation may be to make a plan to redistribute your work if you have a sudden push of the SEP symptoms which you cannot work for one or more days.
3. Physical adaptations may be necessary at the workplace
Think of your current workplace and what would make your task easier. If you have had a previous job, you probably know which accommodation has been useful in the past (or what would have helped). If you work with a physique or an occupational therapist, they can also make suggestions. And there are many resources available, such as the accommodation network and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Some current accommodation of people with MP require: include:
- Parking space near the office
- Toilet support, such as seizure bars
- A specific location for your office or your workspace, such as closer to a rest room
- A chair on which to sit if you have a standing job
- A vest or cooling place to refresh yourself if you are not in a cool workspace
- Assistance technology for vision problems, such as coarse players who provide audio for your screen text
- Noise creation headphones
- Text vocal technology, if you have dexterity problems
The more precise you can be on any special equipment or software you may need, the easier it will be for your employer to meet these needs. And these devices can be paid by the employer, explains Danen.
4. Working at home can increase your productivity
For some employers, the COVVI-19 pandemic has made work at home much more normal, but if your employer encourages a return to the office, you may have to explain why home work is easier for you-and can make you a more productive employee.
“People who do not have the seals underestimate the physical assessment of getting up, dressing and getting started at work,” explains Danen. Avoiding these energy lies can leave you more energy to accomplish your work tasks. Here are some other advantages of working from the house:
- Easier to manage fatigue and work breaks
- Flexibility to take several short breaks or a longer break for yourself
- Better control over temperature, noise and other environmental triggers, which can help concentration and reduce stress
- Easier to plan meetings and not have to have days of illness
- Ability to set up a work area that works better for you
5. Calendar adjustments can sometimes help
MS does not necessarily mean that you will need a work schedule different from that of your colleagues, but if this is the case, you will have to explain why this is the case. You may be able to get housing, such as planning tasks or more complicated meetings in the morning when you have more energy. Or you may have to ask for flexibility, like taking a two-hour break at noon but working later in the evening.
Depending on your workplace, you may be able to negotiate a shorter working day or a four-day work week.
6. You may need free time for medical care
Most workplaces have a policy to take leave for medical meetings. If you need more time than usual, you will have to discuss it with your human resources manager. Check your employment contract, which should explain the number of disease days and the leave request process.
“If you are in the middle of a rocket, you may need to request a flexible work schedule during this period, so that you can go to the doctor and get the treatments you need,” explains Danen.
If you need prolonged leave, you will have to argue if you will be paid during this period. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that protects your job and your health coverage provided by the employer up to 12 weeks a year, but that does not require your employer to pay you during this period. He also does not protect you if you work for a small company with less than 50 employees. You can consult the FMLA website for more details.
The point to take away
- Because MS affects each person differently, the accommodation you may need at work will be unique to you.
- When you discuss your needs with your employer, be precise about how MP affects your ability to do the work – and what changes or tools would help.
- Resources like the Job Hadation Network and the National multiple sclerosis Society can help you identify solutions and understand your rights as an employee.
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