Don’t be tempted into leaving your job after being diagnosed or when you experience your first big relapse. Try to think clearly and don’t allow emotions or symptoms to cloud your judgement. As with disclosing your MS status, only you can make decisions about your career once you’ve looked at all your options. After all, you know yourself, how your career defines you and your specific work situation better than anyone else!Maybe you’ve realised that your workplace no longer meets your needs. In that case, you may need to honestly assess your interest in changing the type of work you do, your ability to be flexible and creative in making adjustments to certain work tasks and whether you’re willing to undergo further training.
Work-related decisions are never easy, but being informed about all aspects relating to your job and how your illness could impact the situation goes a long way toward helping you choose the best route. Make sure to find out about your employee rights and relevant employment policies and how to best manage your illness at work.
Remember that an employer cannot terminate your employment just because you have MS – this would be both unlawful termination and discrimination according to MS Australia. If you want to negotiate aspects such as taking off work or changing your working hours, check the terms of your employment contract and seek specialist advice.
