Motivations to Disclose Chronic Illness in the Workplace

Managing chronic illness is not just a healthcare issue but is also relevant to workplace communication and relationships. Workers with chronic conditions are faced with the decision of if and how they should disclose the chronic condition to their supervisors and co-workers. These decisions are laden with fears of stigma or other forms of discrimination that are commonly associated with invisible identities. This study used a qualitative questionnaire and thematic analysis techniques to reveal three reasons why workers chose to (or not to) reveal their chronic condition in the work environment: facilitate continued employment, enacting values, and explaining absence or condition. Viewing the results through social exchange theory showed that employees exchange (or do not exchange) personal information for workplace accommodations.