The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
The Centers for Disease Control define chronic diseases as those that limit the activities of daily living or require ongoing medical attention, and last at least a year or more. When defined that way, it’s not surprising that six in 10 American adults have at least one chronic condition, and four out of 10 live with two or more. These chronic conditions affect the productivity of people at work; according to the CDC, the lost productivity resulting from the seven most prevalent conditions equals a staggering 3.7 trillion dollars.
Employers can help employees with chronic diseases in a number of ways, such as by promoting healthy activities at work. These activities may include health assessments and screenings; newsletters and other educational information about healthy lifestyles; reduced-rate gym memberships or an on-site gym; smoking cessation programs; standing desks; healthy snacks in break rooms and vending machines; and healthy, catered meals to employees.
If you are an employee with a chronic health condition, recognize that your symptoms may affect you at work. Determine how you can address them, whether that means taking more frequent breaks, working from home some of the time or managing your symptoms. Taking care of your overall health is essential. Consider whether you want to disclose your condition to your supervisor; while this step is not required, it may be beneficial. The accompanying resource details more about this.
![Managing Your Chronic Disease And Your Job [Infographic]](https://confessionsoftheprofessions.com/wp-content/uploads/media/2022/03/common-chronic-diseases.jpg "Managing Your Chronic Disease And Your Job [Infographic]")
