Boston — Three out of 5 workers with a chronic physical health condition are keeping that information from their employer, according to the results of a new survey out of Harvard University.
University researchers, in partnership with the charitable foundation de Beaumont Foundation, surveyed more than 1,000 employed adults, including nearly 600 with a chronic physical health condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Of the participants with a chronic health condition, 60% said they haven’t formally disclosed their condition to their employer, and 76% manage their conditions during work hours.
“Though employers may think they know their employees’ needs, poll results suggest there are widespread and frequently hidden challenges facing workers with chronic conditions,” survey lead Gillian SteelFisher, director of the Harvard Opinion Research Program and principal research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a press release.
“Workers commonly feel stigmatized by their conditions, and this can have a profound effect on both their work and their health,” SteelFisher continued. “To help retain employees in a tight job market, employers may want to have more conversations with employees about ways that they can make work ‘work’ for everyone.”
Other findings:
- A third of the respondents said they’ve helped a family member with a chronic health condition in the past 12 months. Of them, 45% have needed to provide that assistance during work hours.
- Around 37% of the respondents who said they’ve helped a family member reported having difficulty getting time off work, and 25% have needed to reduce their work hours.
- Among the respondents with a chronic health condition or who have helped a family member with a chronic condition, 12% said they don’t have paid leave and 14% have exhausted their paid leave allotment.
Fewer than half of the respondents said their employer will allow them to take breaks or use paid leave when needed. Around 37% have flexible schedules, and 27% can work remotely when needed.
“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,” Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, said in the release. “Not only will this improve the health of employees and their families, but it will also provide employers a way to distinguish themselves, as well as improve retention and reduce absenteeism.”
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