Coping with the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia Whilst Working

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Category: Useful Information

Published on Thursday, 03 March 2011 21:19

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Ideas worth discussing
To address concentration issues, employers may wish to consider:

• allowing periodic rest periods
• prioritising job assignments and providing more structure
• providing written job instructions when possible
• allowing flexible work hours and allowing a self-paced workload
• reducing job stress
• providing memory aids, such as schedulers or organisers
• minimising distractions

To address depression and anxiety, employers may wish to consider:

• reducing distractions in the work environment
• providing to-do lists and written instructions
• reminding the employee of important deadlines and meetings
• allowing time off for counselling
• providing clear expectations of responsibilities and consequences
• providing sensitivity training to co-workers
• allowing breaks to use stress management techniques
• developing strategies to deal with work problems before they arise
• allowing telephone calls during work hours to doctors and others for support
• providing information on counselling and employee assistance programs

  To address fatigue and weakness, employers may wish to consider:

• reducing or eliminating physical exertion and workplace stress
• scheduling periodic rest breaks away from the workstation
• allowing a flexible work schedule and flexible use of leave time
• allowing the employee to work from home
• implementing ergonomic workstation design

To address migraine headaches, employers may wish to consider:

• providing task lighting
• eliminating fluorescent lighting
• providing air purification devices
• allowing flexible work hours and work from home
• allowing periodic rest breaks

To address issues associated with sleep disorder, employers may wish to consider:

• allowing flexible work hours and frequent breaks
• allowing the employee to work from home

To address issues with Temperature Sensitivity, employers may wish to consider:

• Modify work-site temperature and maintain the ventilation system
• Modify dress code
• Use fan/air-conditioner or heater at the workstation and redirect vents
• Allow flexible scheduling and work from home during extremely hot or cold weather
• Provide an office with separate temperature control