How to handle jobs and internships with a medical condition
Here are some helpful tips on how and what to tell your boss about your medical condition. At this point in my life, I have had two internships. Starting an internship or job can be stressful with a medical condition and I hope these tips might help you if you feel the same stresses I have felt. These tips might also be useful upon returning to your job after surgery.
On the first day of my new job, I have always asked to speak privately with the person who is directly above me--typically my boss. As part of this conversation, I have given him/her a brief overview of my medical condition and how it could affect my job performance and attendance (in my case, I am lucky in being able to go full speed at work but I can still have health hiccups). It will be up to you on how much you want to explain about your medical condition to your boss or other person at the job--but it is critical to communicate enough so there is an awareness of your condition. I have always followed a practice of openness and trying to explain essentially everything about my medical condition so that there is an understanding that could help in the future if days at work were missed because of illness. In my experience, while the first conversation can be hard, everyone has always been understanding and supportive.
Sometimes it might also make sense to have the conversation about your health earlier than your first day on the job, for example around a orientation session in advance of starting a job. Regardless of how you decide to handle communicating with your boss or employer, it is important to communicate so there is awareness and then the potential for support and understanding. And, of course, under no circumstances will it be acceptable for your boss or employer to become upset with you or keep you from pursuing opportunities as a result of your condition. If that sort of situation arises, there are many ways for you to address this sort of unacceptable treatment.
Here are some helpful tips on how and what to tell your boss about your medical condition. At this point in my life, I have had two internships. Starting an internship or job can be stressful with a medical condition and I hope these tips might help you if you feel the same stresses I have felt. These tips might also be useful upon returning to your job after surgery.
On the first day of my new job, I have always asked to speak privately with the person who is directly above me--typically my boss. As part of this conversation, I have given him/her a brief overview of my medical condition and how it could affect my job performance and attendance (in my case, I am lucky in being able to go full speed at work but I can still have health hiccups). It will be up to you on how much you want to explain about your medical condition to your boss or other person at the job--but it is critical to communicate enough so there is an awareness of your condition. I have always followed a practice of openness and trying to explain essentially everything about my medical condition so that there is an understanding that could help in the future if days at work were missed because of illness. In my experience, while the first conversation can be hard, everyone has always been understanding and supportive.
Sometimes it might also make sense to have the conversation about your health earlier than your first day on the job, for example around a orientation session in advance of starting a job. Regardless of how you decide to handle communicating with your boss or employer, it is important to communicate so there is awareness and then the potential for support and understanding. And, of course, under no circumstances will it be acceptable for your boss or employer to become upset with you or keep you from pursuing opportunities as a result of your condition. If that sort of situation arises, there are many ways for you to address this sort of unacceptable treatment.