Managing Chronic Illness In The Workplace - Considerations And Strategies

Employers who deal with management of medical conditions and/or disabilities in the workplace know that each issue must be dealt with individually with particular attention to the specific facts and circumstances of the case. Managing chronic illness (i.e., those that are persistent, recurring and long-lasting) at work can be particularly challenging for employers due to the nature of the condition, changes in symptoms and the degree or frequency of recurrence.

Persistent illnesses can affect the employment relationship in a myriad of ways and long-lasting medical conditions are often live issues in workplace litigation including: human rights complaints dealing with the duty to accommodate; wrongful dismissal claims involving frustration of contract as well as labour arbitrations where innocent absenteeism and accommodation are at issue. Broadly speaking, to succeed in defending claims arising from chronic illness employer have to prove: (a) the illness was