5 ways chronic illnesses can impact your job and how to ask for help

Many older workers struggle over whether to tell their boss they have a chronic illness, worrying they might face age discrimination as a result. New research suggests workers of all ages

share that fear. “Among the 58 percent of U.S. employees with physical chronic health conditions, a majority (60 percent) have not formally told their employer,” the Harvard T.H. Chan School

of Public Health and the de Beaumont Foundation report, summarizing the findings of an October 2024 survey of 1,000 U.S. workers age 18 and older. While the survey looked at adults of all

ages, older workers are most affected. According ot the National Council on Aging, 95 percent of adults age 60 and older have at least one chronic condition, and nearly 80 percent have two

or more. Hiding illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and asthma, can create a wide range of on-the-job issues for both workers and their bosses. The Harvard researchers

say businesses could benefit from finding ways to better accommodate workers with long-term conditions. “There is a major opportunity for the business community to play a greater role in

supporting employees with chronic conditions, improving their well-being and performance, while reducing costly problems like absenteeism and turnover,” the study says. Here are five ways

workers say chronic illnesses affect your job performance and tips about how to ask your employer for assistance. 1. YOU TAKE TIME DURING THE WORKDAY TO MANAGE YOUR ILLNESS  Three-quarters

of employees with chronic health conditions (76 percent) needed to take at least some time during business hours to handle their illness.  Among that group, 65 percent say they have needed

to take a break while on the job due to their health, and 61 percent have had to take time off. HOW TO ASK FOR HELP: Taking frequent breaks to manage your health can become an issue that

hurts your job performance — and, eventually, your evaluations — especially if your boss doesn’t know you have an illness.  “As an employee, I would think about, is my chronic condition

going to affect my job performance? And if so, should I be upfront about it, or should I wait until I get counseling for job performance issues,” says Amber Clayton, senior director of the

Society for Human Resource Management's Knowledge Center, which provides advice and support to HR professionals.