The fear that many disabled individuals feel about revealing their condition is not unfounded. Yet, some argue the positive impacts of working from home could be short lived.

Lockdown offered the opportunity for those disguising a condition to make their own workspace adjustments without fear of judgement. In many ways, the past almost two years have changed the situation for disabled workers. She says that despite equality legislation, it remains difficult for employees to prove that they have missed out on a role or been passed over for promotion as a result of a disability – causing many to turn to secrecy instead. In her research, Mitchell found that a quarter of those surveyed had hidden their disability from their HR department, and that only 36% were open with colleagues about their condition. “We’re afraid that we’ll be treated differently, get fewer opportunities at work and that it will impact our chances of progressing, or even lead to us getting fired.” “The simple reason as to why disabled people don’t disclose their disability is that we’re often afraid,” says Cat Mitchell, a lecturer at University of Derby, UK, whose research focuses on the barriers disabled employees and jobseekers face. There’s little concrete data on how many people like Grace are disguising a disability in the workplace – but experts believe stigma surrounding many disabilities and long-term illnesses means it isn’t uncommon for individuals to keep their condition quiet from their employer and colleagues. It is estimated that 4.4 million disabled people – those with a physical or mental impairment with a substantial or long-term impact on their ability to do normal daily activities – are currently in employment in the UK. I thought that it was easier just to hide it.” “I found it awkward to explain my condition to colleagues. “I work as a writer, and often disguise the fact that I am in extreme pain as I am afraid of appearing weak or incapable in my role,” explains Grace, whose surname is being withheld to protect concerns around revealing her disability. She was often in so much pain that it wouldn’t be unusual to duck into a toilet stall to cry, before returning to her desk and pretending that nothing had happened. Instead, she quietly went to the bathroom to pop the joint back into place before returning to her desk.įor Manchester, UK-based Grace – who has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a condition that causes her to experience extreme joint pain, chronic fatigue, joint instability and frequent dislocations – this was a common occurrence. When Grace, 24, dislocated her elbow at work, she didn’t call an ambulance or go to the hospital.

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