Coping with chronic illness at work: case studies of five successful employees

Issue title: Vocational Rehabilitation and Chronic Illness

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Roessler, Richard^; | Reed, Cheryl | Brown, Patricia

Affiliations: Research and Training Center in Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation, University of Arkansas, 346 N. West Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 501 6756428; Fax: + 1 501 5753253; E-mail: rroessl@comp.uark.edu.

Abstract: In this article, we describe how five resilient individuals coped with career problems created by chronic illnesses. Using a variety of ‘work enhancers’ to maintain employment, each individual in the study is a positive role model for other employed people in similar circumstances. At the same time, the employees with chronic illnesses in this study have serious concerns about their ability to retain employment. These concerns are discussed as well, with particular reference to the need for systematic and intermittent post-employment support from rehabilitation professionals.

Keywords: Retention, Post-employment, Accommodations, Chronic illness, Barriers, Career maintenance strategies

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-1998-10309

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 261-269, 1998