According to a new survey, the majority of adult workers in the U.S. are battling at least one chronic health condition that may need to be managed on the job — but most aren’t telling their employers.
The majority of U.S. workers are battling some form of chronic disease, but most are keeping it hidden from their employers.
In a new poll, 60% of people with conditions like heart disease, diabetes and asthma say they’ve never informed their boss.
The poll included a nationally representative sample of more than 1,000 adults with part-time and full-time jobs.
58% reported having at least one chronic condition. Most said they need to manage their condition during work hours but haven’t formally told their boss.
36% say they’ve skipped medical appointments or delayed getting care to avoid interfering with work in the past year.
And about half said they felt they could not take time off or schedule a break during work hours to take care of their themselves.
The survey also found many healthy workers are looking after ill family members at home. 37% of them said they have difficulty taking time off to help their loved ones. And the majority said remote work and flexible scheduling were not options for them.
The CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which conducted the survey says. “There is a major opportunity for employers to play a greater role in supporting employees who are managing their own or their family’s chronic conditions.”
He says this will improve the health of employees and their families, increase workplace retention and reduce absenteeism.
Source: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The de Beaumont Foundation
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