When should I tell an employer about my arthritis?

Carefully consider if or when to tell an employer about your condition and how it affects you. If the company is committed to hiring people with disabilities, an arthritis-related condition could be an asset. It could also be an asset if the position requires someone who understands the effects of a chronic disease.

Sometimes, however, arthritis may raise questions in an employer's mind about your ability to do your job. For that reason, some people with arthritis are reluctant to talk about their condition because they fear a prospective employer will not hire them, or if they have a job, they will not be promoted.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made it much easier for people with arthritis to be open with employers about their disease and their needs. (A description of the ADA follows, beginning on the next page) Still, if, when or how you decide to talk with your employer about your arthritis is a personal decision. You might base your decision on three things:

• Whether your disability is obvious.
   
• Whether you need special accommodations to do the job.
   
• The effort required to keep your arthritis hidden.

As you make this decision, bear in mind that, by law, employers with 15 or more employees are required to make "reasonable accommodations" to enable workers with disabilities to do their jobs. This may mean getting special equipment, making your office accessible to you, allowing you to work from home or offering a flexible work schedule. Unless the employer knows about your condition, however, he or she is not obligated to make these accommodations.

©2001. National Endowment for Financial Education. All rights reserved.

Note: Certain content areas in this material are current as of the publishing, but legislative and regulatory changes as well as new developments may date this material over time. This content is meant to provide general financial information; it is not meant to be a substitute for or to supersede specific professional or legal advice.