For 17 years, Cheryl Richardson has lived with multiple sclerosis.
She was constantly tired, and even the simplest hug from a family member felt like a corset tightening around her body. Problems in her left eye and numbness in her hands led to the Lynnwood woman's diagnosis in 1990.
She worked for a petroleum company at the time and didn't tell them about her condition. She only told immediate family members, not wanting to encounter a potential negative response to her revelation.
But by 2004, she couldn't hide it anymore. By then she had switched companies and worked in various positions at Macy's. That year, the busy holiday season took its toll. Richardson was exhausted and dragging through the store on feet she didn't realize she couldn't feel.
She took a 10-month leave from work to recover -- the only time multiple sclerosis forced her to stop working. When she returned, the company knew about her disease and the accommodations she finally acknowledged she needed to continue working. They allow her to take longer lunch breaks and sit down more to do her job to counter the intense fatigue that sets in daily. The 49-year-old also takes a break before driving home at night so she doesn't fall asleep at the wheel.
Chronic diseases affect the American work force in large numbers and are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They cost the U.S. economy more than $1 trillion a year, and that figure is expected to rise to $6 trillion by the end of the century, according to an October report from the Milken Institute, a California nonprofit specializing in economic research.
The group analyzed the seven most common chronic diseases, including the most common types of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease, pulmonary conditions and mental disorders. The study found that treatment cost $277 billion and lost worker productivity cost about $1 trillion, based on data from 2003.
Skyrocketing obesity rates greatly contribute to the rise in chronic diseases, which is having a staggering effect on the American work force. Chronic ailments such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy also affect a large number of workers and those looking for jobs. The Northwest has a higher incidence of multiple sclerosis than other parts of the world, for unknown reasons.
All those factors, along with an aging work force, mean more employers will face the need to accommodate workers.
In Richardson's case, her employer made the adaptations she needed. But people in her situation often are afraid to tell employers about their conditions and think asking for accommodations will turn employers away.
"We live in a culture and society that worships the strong," said Ray Heacox, president and general manager of KING/TV, who was diagnosed in the mid-1990s with multiple sclerosis. "It's overcoming that first sense that you're weak and that your boss thinks that you're less of a person or employee."
Heacox said most people don't know enough about chronic diseases and judge people's abilities without the proper education.
Heacox's fatigue causes him to use a scooter to get around the office at times, but he has never missed work because of his condition or hidden it from anyone. When he interviewed with his current company, he didn't need to walk with a cane yet but brought one to the interview anyway to let them know. He meets regularly with business leaders and tells them his disease doesn't define him; odds are they have employees with chronic diseases, though they might not know it.
"In the end, would you rather have a roomful of people working who need accommodations but love where they work, or hid it from you and resented every minute they were in that environment?" he said.
Dr. Bob Fraser said some companies think their insurance rates will go up or their accident rates will increase if they hire someone with a disability. He is the director of Neurology Vocational Services at Harborview Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Services.
"Companies worry that co-workers will react poorly or managers will see the employee as less efficient or accommodations will cost too much," he said.
Fraser, whose program provides vocational services to people with neurological disorders such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, epilepsy and MS patients with cognitive issues, said the people he helps train go the extra mile to be good employees. Accommodations such as work station modifications usually average about $500 to $700 per person.
The program works with Seattle-area employers to teach them about misconceptions and place individuals in their companies. They hold a meeting every six weeks with up to 50 human resource specialists to address their concerns and hear thoughts on how to better train their clients. Fraser also points to the tax incentives for businesses that make accommodations for employees with special needs.
"Employer attitudes have become more receptive, which is a testimony to the increased educational level," said Fraser. "People shouldn't feel they can't work or shouldn't reveal their conditions to an employer."
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by state and local government agencies. For employers, the law applies to job application procedures, hiring, advancement and discharge of employees, worker's compensation and job training. Employers could be sued for violating the law.
The Washington chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society provides resources for people who have problems on the job or are afraid to tell their employers about their condition. It becomes a liaison between employers and employees if needed.
Richardson, a charismatic and expressive woman, said her disease has inspired her to try to help others who are newly diagnosed to cope. She writes poems about her disease and hopes to turn her writings into a one-woman show.
"I was nicknamed 'rapid fire' at a job I had once, so I needed to learn how to slow down," she said. "You just have to pace yourself. Don't pretend like you don't have a disease, just learn to make room for it in your life."
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