Questions That Matter
Navigating Work During Illness or Injury
Health Guide No. 5, Published August 2026
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.
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Navigating Work During Illness or Injury
Better healthcare depends on informed questions, engaged communities, and decisions that reflect people's needs.
This guide helps you navigate work during illness or injury by exploring options, asking questions, and making informed decisions about benefits, leave, and workplace accommodations.
Understand Your Situation
- Assess how your health condition may affect your ability to perform your job safely and effectively.
- Determine whether your condition may be work-related, such as a workplace injury, repetitive use, toxin exposure, or work-related stress, and discuss this with your healthcare provider when appropriate.
- Ask your healthcare provider about your expected recovery time and any work restrictions.
- Gather important medical and employment documents in one place.
- Review your employer's leave, disability, and accommodation policies.
- Recognize inappropriate requests for information by knowing your workplace rights and responsibilities.
- Consider how changes in work may affect your income, health insurance, and other benefits.
- Understand your options and their potential consequences before making major decisions.
- Balance your health, work obligations, finances, and personal priorities when making work decisions.
- Revisit your plans as your recovery and circumstances evolve.
Work with Your Employer
- Communicate with your employer when appropriate about changes that may affect your work.
- Determine what medical documentation your employer may require.
- Clarify how leave may affect your pay, benefits, and return-to-work process.
- Understand the implications of changes to your work schedule, responsibilities, or employment status before making decisions.
- Ask about workplace accommodations, job modifications, or flexible scheduling if needed.
- Identify one point of contact to help coordinate workplace communication, when appropriate.
- Keep records of important conversations, emails, and employment documents related to your situation. When possible, confirm important verbal conversations in writing.
- Revisit workplace plans and conversations as your health or work circumstances change.
Questions to Ask Your Employer
Ask questions that matter most to your situation.
- What policies and benefits apply to my situation?
- What options are available to help me continue performing my job safely and effectively?
- What accommodations, temporary job modifications, or flexible work options are available?
- How might changes to my schedule or responsibilities affect my pay, benefits, or employment?
- What medical documentation do you need from my healthcare provider?
- How will I be informed if there are concerns about my performance during this period?
- How should we communicate if my health or work circumstances change?
- What is the process for requesting workplace accommodations or returning to work?
- Who should I contact if I have questions or my situation changes?
Workplace Policies and Programs to Know
Workplace policies and programs vary by employer, eligibility requirements, and state law. Becoming familiar with these programs can help you ask informed questions and make more informed decisions.
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) | Eligible employees may take unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying medical or family reasons. |
| Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) | Provides protections against disability discrimination and may require reasonable accommodations for qualified employees. |
| Short-Term Disability (STD) | May replace a portion of your income if you are temporarily unable to work because of illness or injury. |
| Long-Term Disability (LTD) | May provide partial income replacement if you are unable to work for an extended period because of illness or injury. |
| COBRA | May allow you to keep employer-sponsored health insurance by paying the full premium for a limited time. |
| Workers' Compensation | May provide medical care and wage replacement for work-related illnesses or injuries. |
| Employee Assistance Program (EAP) | Some employers offer confidential counseling, referrals, and other support services for employees. |
| Vocational Rehabilitation | State programs that may help people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, maintain, or return to employment. |
| Job Accommodation Network (JAN) | A free national resource that provides guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. |
Healthcare for people who live in the real world, not in a medical chart.
Proactive communication can help you and your employer support your health, recovery, and work.
Note: This guide reflects the U.S. healthcare system and is a living document that continues to evolve.
Prepared by Cynthia Overton, PhD
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.
Ask 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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