7 Signs The Company Youre Interviewing at Wont Support Your Chronic Pain Needs

7 Signs The Company Youre Interviewing at Wont Support Your Chronic Pain Needs If youre dealing with chronic pain, youre not alone. In fact, chronic pain affects anywherbeie from 11% to 40% of people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, for example, an estimated 20.4% of U.S. adults had coped with chronic pain, and 8% of U.S. adults were managing high-impact chronic pain.Its not easy, of course, to work with chronic pain. Thats why many people choose to keep their pain quiet at work they fear discrimination. Unfortunately, there are some companies that wont care about your chronic pain but, hopefully, there are ways you can detect whether or not they will at the start.Here are seven red flags that the company for which youre interviewing wont respect you as someone who deals with chronic pain.1. Theres a hushed culture surrounding chronic pain.Youll know if theres a hushed culture surrounding chronic pain if you happen to know a nyone who works for the company with chronic pain. Reach out to people who work for the company regarding informational interviews if you dont know anyone there already. These conversations should give you more of an idea of how the company handles people with chronic pain.2. The health benefits arent great.Chronic pain can be debilitating just because its often invisible, doesnt mean that its not valid. A company that respects this will offer health benefits and coverage that can help support employees with chronic pain in finding treatment.3. Theres a culture of powering through.If the interviewer mentions any expectations of you to power through, or mentions that they themselves are powering through the day, it could be a red flag that theyll expect you to power through your chronic pain, as well.4. Employees are expected to come into work while sick.If employees arent entitled paid time off for sick days, this could be a red flag. If theyre expected to come to work while sick or use their vacation time to take care of themselves, it may be because the company doesnt respect those with illnesses, including chronic pain.5. The company doesnt seem to promote any work-life balance.If those who work at the company seem to get to the office super early and regularly leave really late, often working odd hours and weekends, it could be because the company doesnt promote any work-life balance. And those dealing with chronic pain need work-life balance to take care of themselves.6. The job interviewer seems to be suffering but refuses to say so.If you suspect that the interviewer is suffering from chronic pain, but they brush it under the rug, this could be because they dont feel comfortable talking openly about it. And that could be a red flag that you wont be able to talk openly about your own chronic pain.7. The company reviews on Fairygodboss say so.Check out the company reviews on Fairygodboss and other job boards. If any of the former or current employees ment ion that the company doesnt respect those with chronic pain, take it as a red flag.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report,Twitterherreport and Facebook.