Does it matter what workers’ reasons are for disclosing or not disclosing a disability at work? Why and how?

Deciding whether or not to disclose a disability to others at work is a complex consideration. People with many chronic mental and physical health conditions, often called episodic disabilities, experience times of relative wellness punctuated by intermittent periods of activity limitations. How do they decide whether or not to disclose their health conditions? What are their goals? And how do they perceive the outcomes of their decisions?

In this presentation, ACED Director Dr. Monique Gignac shares findings from her study examining these questions. She discusses participants' reasons and goals for disclosing—e.g. building trust, obtaining support and being forced to address others' observations—and whether they matter to reported outcomes. She also explores factors related to participants' health and work conditions and their associations with work support outcomes.