Work can be challenging and exhausting for all of us, but for those living and working with a chronic illness, the challenges are exceptional.

Sarah Berthon is a business and chronic illness mentor and the founder of Excel Against the Odds. Find out more at https://www.excelagainsttheodds.co.uk/

She has lived experience of managing the fine balance of working in blue-chip companies and running her own products and services businesses, with her own chronic conditions including Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS Syndrome, ME, IBS and chronic migraine.

She now mentors employees who are struggling with their own chronic illnesses; and works with employers and HR teams to help them understand how best to manage team members with chromic conditions.

“I don’t think people realise how prevalent it is and how much it can affect people, ” Sarah said. “There is this idea that people just aren’t trying hard enough, they’re not pushing themselves.”

Sarah says that comments such as being told that she should push a bit harder (despite her ME) had a detrimental effect on her health.

In her work now, she is keen to help people managers understand what steps help those with chronic illness and what ones don’t.

Keeping it secret
Despite a greater emphasis on workplace wellbeing, many people working with a chronic illness fear being stigmatised, which means they try to hide their conditions.

“They don’t want to appear that they have any sort of weakness,” Sarah said, adding that by speaking up about their challenges, they will hopefully find that employers will be able to make small changes that can make a big difference to their working life.

Sarah wants to raise awareness of how working with a chronic illness can be facilitated by employers.

Bit she also wants those coping with conditions to feel empowered to ask for help that can make a huge difference to their lives.

“It’s about having those conversations and trying to work out what little adjustments can be made from both [sides] so the employee can work to the best of their ability,” Sarah concluded.

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