Once you return to work, you may find your previous accommodations may no longer be working for you. Again, it may take a trial and error process to discover the best system for you – keep your supervisor involved in this part of the process and communicate regularly. If you ever have to push for accommodation, remember that you can reach out to an advocate to help you obtain what you need. If you fear losing your position because of your insistence, you may want to consider whether this job is still right for you.
It is also possible that you and your employer work together to try to find accommodations or modifications to meet your new situation, you could find it is simply not working. This may also be a sign that the job itself may not been a good fit for you, no matter the accommodation, and it could be time to move on to another position entirely. Try not to see this as failure! There are many factors that contribute to the job being a good fit for a person. It’s not uncommon to see people get stuck in trying to modify themselves along with the environment to make a job work.
Listen to Samantha’s experience with knowing when to leave a job.
Your career path is a journey. It will not always be linear and it may be difficult at times. To keep yourself going, consider doing the following:
- Review your career goals regularly
- Check in with yourself to acknowledge whether your health is being prioritized
- Seek support from a career counselor
- Keep an open mind about new job opportunities
To conclude, it is important to know what you can ask for in terms of accommodation and that you keep communicating your needs to your employer. It can take time to truly feel comfortable being back at work after sick leave or acquiring a disability so be patient with yourself. Don’t be afraid to push and ask for help from outside if need be.
Remember that you are not stuck in your position and you don’t owe your employer anything for accommodating you.