Chronic illnesses have many faces and are often invisible.

Migraines, diabetes, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, long Covid, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, cancer and endometriosis are just a few of the conditions that can limit participation in (working) life. 

People with episodic illnesses are affected differently than those with constant “symptoms”. What unites all these people is that they – as a rule – do not lose their knowledge, their professional expertise and their need to contribute, and do not want to be reduced to being sick. Chronic illnesses in particular have the special feature that the degree of the illness and the associated limitations are not immediately apparent to outsiders. Dealing with illness and creating conditions for productivity in work settings therefore requires above all knowledge and understanding, and in turn open and trusting communication. Because in addition to factual limitations and challenges, the topic of ‘Chronic illness in working life’ still subject to prejudice and clichés on the one hand, and shame and insecurity on the other.