Why is chronic illness a bad thing? But first, let us get a broad idea of what chronic illnesses are. Chronic illnesses are those with conditions that can last a long time such as 2 months or longer and require ongoing medical attention. This also limits the person from doing daily activities due to something such as back pain, sleeplessness, and more. I would say a lot of people have some type of chronic illness and it shows. At my workplace I see a lot of accommodated items in different desks such as some type of foot stool, special work chair to help with their back pain, odd looking keyboard, and an odd looking mouse to help with their wrist issues.

So back to the question on why people think it is a bad thing, specifically companies. In the article of, “Unhealthy Disabled: Treating Chronic Illnesses as Disabilities” by Susan Wendell, she says, “Most workers feel put-upon and frustrated by their working conditions and the demands of their employers on their time and energy. They have to stand up all day, or have few bathroom breaks, or work overtime or at night, and their employer refuses to accommodate to their aching backs, their family pressures, their sleeplessness or difficulty in concentrating. Many workers, that is, find the demands placed on them next to over whelming at times, and they feel barely able to cope. Rarely do they get a sympathetic ear to voice their frustrations, however, and the only agents they are allowed to blame for their difficulties are themselves” (Wendell, 2001). If people have chronic illness, then the company is forced to meet their demands and needs because of the law placed so they can work normally like others. If they don’t get what they want, then they would just simply leave. If a company did not heed my request, I would leave as well because I can only do my work so well if I am actually working comfortably. If I cannot get what I need, why work there in the first place? Before you start going into that job, make sure you do some research on how the company treats their employees. Otherwise, be that person to make some change which will impact the community in a good way.