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Managerial attitudes: Influences on workforce outcomes for working women with chronic illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Shalene Werth
Shalene Werth*
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Australia; University of Southern Queensland, Australia
*
Shalene Werth, School of Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia. Email: werths@usq.edu.au
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Abstract

Individual managers may make judgements and decisions which reflect social expectations rather than organisational policy. Society generally requires that individuals with an illness take leave from their work, seek medical assistance and return when they are well. This is not possible for individuals with chronic illness. By its nature, chronic illness has no cure. Individuals who are diagnosed with diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease and who also undertake paid employment may need to disclose their illness and seek some form of accommodation in their workplace. Understanding attitudes of managers plays a significant role in the success of managing work and chronic illness. This article examines the working experiences of women with chronic illness where the attitudes of managers were less understanding.

Keywords

M50Chronic illnessdisabilitydisclosurediscriminationdiversityemployment securityreasonable accommodationwomenworkworkforce participation
Type
Articles
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 296 - 313
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015

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