WORK
Disclosure Of Your Health Condition
As a general matter, there is no requirement to disclose a health condition at work.
Even if your employer is so small that there is no legal coverage, disclosure and a request for an accommodation when needed makes the work situation easier – if for no other reason, eliminating the anxiety that accompanies keeping a secret.
Disclosure also makes it easier if your job involves meals with clients and/or company executives.
If you choose to not disclose your health condition, there are no legal protections – protections against discrimination and requirements that you be given a “reasonable accommodation” if needed to permit you to do your job, including time off if necessary (e.g. after being glutened)
Co-Workers
As a general matter, it is helpful for co-workers with whom you work closely to know about your condition and what it means. If nothing else, it eliminates the stress of keeping a secret – the greater the secret the greater the stress.
It will make life easier – whether an unexpected symptom shows up or you have a business lunch or dinner to attend, but where you won’t be able to eat the food. For a general discussion of dealing with co-workers, click here.
Effect On Work
The most obvious effect on work is if you get glutened and have to miss work, or you can go to work, but your performance is off. There may also be additional symptoms due to related conditions.
If your job involves business meals or socialization, there are all the same questions to be dealt with as in a non-business setting. See our Table of Contents for subjects that may apply to your work, and hints about how to deal with them.
If there is a group refrigerator, keep your food on the top shelf, with sealed tops, and clear markings to indicate which food is yours. If there is no group refrigerator, or if people keep eating your food, ask for permission to keep a mini refrigerator near your desk or in your office.
A related disease may leave you unable to work. If that happens, learn how to apply for Social Security Disability in a manner that is likely to get you approved. We are not suggesting you lie when applying. However, saying a fact one way may get you declined, while stating it another way may lead to approval. To learn more, click here.
Relationships at work may be affected. At the least, think about what to say when your boss or co-worker says: “A little bit won’t hurt you” or “Zeke spent hours making your favorite dessert for you” or “You didn’t look that sick before.” Be kind. Their intentions are good. Educate them.
Just as in the world outside of work, there may be people who are not as accommodating to your needs as you would like. It may be that the person doesn’t understand or thinks of gluten-free as a lifestyle choice. Consider educating the person, perhaps by suggesting a read of our Just Diagnosed guide.
The odds are you will also make new friends.
Discrimination At Work
Thanks to the federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar state laws, you cannot be discriminated against at work because of a health condition. You also cannot be discriminated against because of your genes.
To learn what to do at work, whether to tell an employer and co-workers about a health condition and if so how, click here.
Reasonable Accommodation
Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), an employee is entitled to a “reasonable accommodation“ if needed. A reasonable accommodation is a change to accommodate your needs that is reasonable from the perspective of a particular employer. What may be reasonable for General Motors may be an unreasonable burden on a local retail store.
For instance, a reasonable accommodation may be a separate gluten-free kitchen in a large employer’s facility that has multiple kitchens for employees, or a part of a refrigerator for a mom and pop store. Time off for being glutened may be a reasonable accommodation. To learn more, click here
If Celiac Disease Makes You Unable To Work
There are situations where you may become unable to work depending on your job and your symptoms. There may also be a related condition which may also leave you unable to work.
Under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employers with fifty or more employees must give you up to twelve weeks off in a twelve-month period if you are incapacitated by a serious health condition (or need to care for a family member with a serious health condition.) For information about the FMLA, click here.
If you become unable to work, learn how to apply for Social Security Disability in a manner that is likely to get you approved. To learn more, click here.
You may be entitled to a Federal Unemployment Benefit. To learn about the benefit and how to obtain it, see the excellent discussion on the Celiac Disease Foundation Website.