The Struggles of Finding a Job With Rheumatoid Arthritis
失去一份工作是很困难的。夫妻with managing a chronic illness like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and trying to get back up on your feet can seem even more daunting. People with chronic illnesses are more likely to be unemployed than their healthy counterparts. Finding and keeping a job can be very difficult for people with RA. Here are tips to help if you’re currently looking for a job or struggling to keep one with a chronic illness.
First, take care of you
There are a lot of challenges involved in looking for a job, but the good news is that the ever-evolving treatments for RA are giving people the opportunity and ability to work more than ever before while managing their condition. Do your best to ensure that your RA is as controlled as possible. If you have symptoms that get in the way of looking for work or performing the duties of a job, such as pain, flares, and fatigue, talk to your rheumatologist about options that can make you feel better.
明确你的目标
找工作就像任何其他的目标:它需要一个计划。做什么样的工作,你正在寻找一些思考。Research the average salaryfor the position you’re interested in. Next, develop a list of places where you can apply, and then create a "plan-B" list of otions in case your ideal job goal doesn’t work out. Being clear about your goal and where you’re willing to compromise can give you confidence as you prepare your application or attend interviews.
找工作的时候随机应变
有很多网站,告诉普通人如何工作最好看。其中一个关键因素是网络,就是说话要知道每个人,要求他们帮助的导师,甚至让他们检查自己的源职位空缺。当你有RA,你也想进军RA社区。与相同条件下其他人可以告诉你有关公司,都在他们的待遇谁慢性病患者住员工的人性化,以及能够使它很难有人像你工作的公司。
如果你透露你的病?
You are not legally obligated to tell anyone about your chronic illness, not in an interview, not when you’re working for an organization. Although the law prohibits employers from not hiring or firing someone with a chronic illness, the reality is that it happens. In an interview, the goal is to share your qualifications so the company can make a decision about whether you are right for the job. Unless your illness has given you unique qualifications for the job — for instance, as a health advocate or social worker in a chronic illness clinic — it’s probably best to not mention it in an interview.
考虑工作场所住宿
你的用人单位有权了解您的健康状况的唯一情况是,如果你request accommodations。Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you have theright to request reasonable accommodationsthat will make you better able to complete your work. Depending on the job, this might even include flexible hours or the ability to work from home. You can ask for accommodation during the interview, if you receive a job offer, or even after you start working. TheJob Accommodation Network有更多的信息。
Being different can be hard, even at work
要求饭店都觉得吓人。一旦你“OUT”自己是人谁是不同的,它会导致你被区别对待?如果你的雇主是一个很好的,它不应该。不幸的是,有时工作可以非常像高中欺凌确实发生。找到一个盟友,比如你的老板或人力资源工作人员,是非常重要的。
Should you change careers?
当他们的条件,使得它非常困难甚至是不可能继续在他们目前的职业有些人与RA可能会达到一个点,尤其是如果这是一个非常实际的工作。一种选择是转行到一份工作,更是心理。它可能会为你当前的组织内转行。展望回到学校参加课程或赚取了不同程度的may also lead you to a job that would be less physically demanding,
是自由职业者吗?
If working a traditional 9-to-5 job is very difficult for you, another option is to look into freelancing. Many people with chronic illnesses opt to freelance because it allows them to work from home and make their own hours. While working from home has its benefits, it also comes with some hazards, the main ones being not having a steady income and not having access to affordable health insurance. Both can be essential for managing RA.
There may be better options for you
In the past, at least half of人RA不得不停止在10年内诊断工作。对于许多人来说,这不再是这种情况。更好的治疗,ADA的支持,以及技术的进步意味着你必须比以前的工作越来越多的选择,只是像其他人一样的组合。
Above all, be happy
在这一切的最重要的事情是你在所有可能喜欢什么,如果。如果患有RA意味着你只有有限的时间和精力(由于耀斑和约会),你不想浪费它做的东西,不会使你快乐。对于一些人来说,幸福来源于工作中的作业,是他们的激情。对于其他人,该工作知识使他们有保险,以支持他们的家庭是什么使他们感到高兴。