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Working can be difficult enough when you have fibromyalgia. Depending on the nature of your job, it can heap more exhaustion on top of the fatigue that you already experience with your illness. While managing your job is challenging enough, looking for a new job when you have fibro presents even more issues. Here are some questions to ask yourself during your job search.
Can You Find a Telecommute Situation?
Many people with fibromyalgia find it very difficult to hold down a traditional job, especially if it requires long commutes or regular overtime. You may need regular naps to deal with your fatigue, which is not compatible with most traditional jobs. Working at home can be a solution that still enables you to keep working while eliminating some of the biggest sources of stress. Try doing a search for your job title or field and the word “telecommute” or “remote” to find opportunities.
Should You Disclose Your Illness During the Interview?
It can be difficult to decide whether or not you should mention your illness during the interview. While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects against discrimination, employer biases can still affect their judgment. Whether or not you should disclose your illness is a personal decision with no one right answer.
Fibromyalgia is not always a visibly apparent illness unless you walk with a cane. If you decide to disclose during the interview process, it’s important to spin your illness in a positive light. Instead of focusing on the likelihood that you’ll need to take regular days off work, highlight the obstacles you’ve overcome and what you are still able to do. Remember that if you don’t disclose during the interview, you can always do so after you’re hired at a time that seems appropriate.
Can You Actually Perform the Job Duties?
You may feel desperate about needing a job, especially if you don’t like your current job or if you’re unemployed. However, it’s important to be honest with yourself about whether or not a specific job you’re pursuing is one you think you’ll realistically be able to perform. Physically demanding jobs or ones that are high stress tend to be more difficult for people with fibro because they’re more likely to trigger a flare.
Create a List of Possible Needed Accommodations
The ADA gives disabled employees the right to work with reasonable accommodations. You can improve your work life by making a list in advance of the accommodations that might benefit you and make it easier to do your job. Here are some ideas:
- Get job instructions in writing when possible.
- Reduce distractions in the work environment.
- Establish multiple shorter break periods for rest instead of a couple longer breaks.
- Implement a fragrance-free workplace policy
- Move workstation near office equipment and restrooms
Would You Benefit from Vocational Rehabilitation?
Vocational rehab is designed to keep people with disabilities in the workforce in the most appropriate roles. In addition to performing assessments of your current functioning, vocational rehab will also help to discover what types of interventions you might need. You can get referrals to other services if necessary and can also get career counseling that will help you find a job that fits your physical needs.
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