Women, Work, and AutoImmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend!

Rosalind Joffe and Joan Friedlander

Upon discovering a chronic or life-threatening illness, many women’s first inclination is to pull the covers back over their heads. Joffe, herself dealing with a chronic illness, show her readers ways to continue in today’s workforce. From developing support systems to tricks-of-the-trade (finding the nearest bathroom, pronto!) she guides her readers through the treacherous waters of chronic illness and one of the first hurdles of day-to-day life, getting out of that bed and going to work. 

 How I wish I had with I had hired Ms. Joffe as a Work Coach prior to transitioning from my position into the ranks of the unemployed!  Since I didn’t have the good sense to do that here she is in print imparting her wisdom and advising how to stay in the workforce with chronic illness.  When I told my employers I had a chronic illness, it was the beginning of the end. I might as well have told them I had a contagious disease. All I could remember was that episode of “Monk” where Natalie kissed the cute guy with leprosy and she ran inside and began frantically washing her mouth out with mouthwash.

Ms Joffe, herself a first-person “girlfriend” who understands what it is like to have to deal with the multiple issues of chronic illness,  has navigated the treacherous waters.  She can assist others in developing a work plan, communicating with employers, and considerations for self-employment.  There are numerous tricks of the trade. Even though I’m no longer “employed” in the regular sense of the word, I’ve kept Ms. Joffe and Friedlander’s book on my bookshelf.

(I would also recommend visiting Ms. Joffe’s website, Working With Chronic Illness.)

Have you read this book? What did you think? How about other books regarding working with chronic illness?

Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! by Rosalind Joffe, Joan FriedlanderRead more about this book…

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