Guide
Navigating Work During Illness or Injury
This guide helps people navigate work during illness or injury by exploring their options, asking informed questions, and making informed decisions about benefits, leave, workplace accommodations, and returning to work. It also explains key workplace policies and programs that may provide support during recovery and notes that these policies can vary by employer, eligibility requirements, and state law.
Primary audience: People navigating work during an illness, injury, or disability.
Additional audiences: Family members and caregivers, healthcare professionals, vocational rehabilitation counselors, employers and human resources professionals, disability service providers, and patient advocates.
Topics Covered
- How to assess the way a health condition may affect your ability to work safely and effectively.
- Workplace rights, benefits, leave options, and accommodation opportunities to understand before making employment decisions.
- Ways to communicate proactively with your employer and keep records of important conversations and documentation.
- Informed questions to ask about workplace accommodations, return-to-work planning, and employment expectations.
- Workplace policies and programs that may provide financial, legal, and employment support during illness or injury.
Why This Resource Matters
People experiencing illness or injury often face difficult decisions about work, leave, income, benefits, and workplace accommodations while managing their health. This guide provides practical questions, communication strategies, and information about workplace programs to help people make informed decisions throughout their recovery.
What's Inside
- Understanding Your Work Situation
- Work Restrictions and Recovery Planning
- Medical Documentation
- Leave, Disability, and Workplace Accommodation Policies
- Communicating with Your Employer
- Questions to Ask Your Employer
- Return-to-Work Planning
- Workplace Rights and Responsibilities
- FMLA, ADA, COBRA, Workers' Compensation, and Disability Benefits
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
Download the Resource
Formatted PDF
Includes graphics and layout.
Download PDF of Navigating Work During Illness or Injury (PDF, opens in a new tab)Additional Resources from Other Organizations
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – U.S. Department of Labor (opens in a new tab)
Explains job-protected leave, eligibility requirements, employee rights, employer responsibilities, and how FMLA can help you take time away from work while managing a serious health condition or caring for a family member.
- Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (opens in a new tab)
Offers free, confidential guidance on workplace accommodations, disability disclosure, return-to-work planning, and communicating with employers about accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- EEOC – Disability Discrimination (opens in a new tab)
Describes your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including reasonable accommodations, protections against disability discrimination, and information on requesting accommodations or filing a complaint if your rights are violated.
Continue Learning
Keep exploring with another resource from the Center for Person-Centered Care.
Guide
Managing Changes in Function After Illness or Injury
Explore practical strategies and resources for adapting to changes in function at home, work, and in the community.
Explore Resource – Managing Changes in Function After Illness or InjuryAsk the questions you need to make work decisions that support your health, recovery, and everyday life.
The Health Guides, Visual Snapshots, and Clinical Practice Resources were reviewed by a physician for clinical accuracy and by other reviewers to improve readability, clarity, and ease of understanding.
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