For many employers - even those who actively encourage diversity recruitment and retention initiatives - adapting recruiting and retention efforts to include workers with a chronic condition can be challenging.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. Symptoms can range from numbness and tingling to vision impairment and paralysis. The hallmark of MS is its unpredictability, meaning that MS symptoms can appear and disappear in an individual, often without warning. Because MS symptoms are as unique as each person it impacts, employers need to familiarize themselves with the disease so that they can maximize the skills and talents of existing or prospective employees who are living with MS.
From a pure numbers perspective, employers need to be focused on long-term retention efforts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 78 million Baby Boomers are beginning to transition out of the workforce, and there simply aren't enough younger workers to fill the gaps. People with MS are most often diagnosed with the disease between the ages of 20 and 50 - prime career-building years - so this is a key demographic to reach.
Because MS is typically an adult-onset condition, people with MS have often completed their advanced education and training and started to establish and excel in their careers - and therefore have a valuable, attractive set of skills and abilities. When employers retain and recruit employees with MS, they can realize bottom line gains by benefiting from the experience these workers often bring.
According to the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), data collected suggests that more than half of all accommodations for workers with special needs cost less than $500 total. Further, JAN statistics show that most employers report financial benefits from providing accommodations due to a reduction in the cost of training new employees, a reduction in the cost of insurance, and an increase in worker productivity. Investing in an employee with MS, or any chronic condition, is an investment in the future of an employer's company.
Often by offering simple accommodations, such as opportunities during the day for employees to rest or providing telecommuting options, employers can make the difference for someone living with MS and allow them to continue working. Overall, staying informed about chronic conditions such as MS and the accommodations that can be made to retain productive employees can support an employer's recruiting and retention efforts and reputation in the near- and long-term.
There are resources available to employers who would like to learn more about making their workplaces supportive and understanding of MS:
" MS Workplace, a website launched in conjunction with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Monster, Biogen Idec and Elan, makes Monster job search tools, career content and resume posting capabilities more readily available to individuals with MS. The website also provides information to help employers best leverage and cultivate the talents of employees living with MS. www.MSWorkplace.com
" The National Multiple Sclerosis Society offers a comprehensive list of educational programs, information, publications and other resources specific to employment issues. www.NationalMSSociety.org
" The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association provides additional information for employers looking to learn more about other autoimmune conditions that affect as many as 50 million people in the U.S. www.aarda.org
" The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) of the U.S. Department of Labor. JAN's mission is to facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities and related subjects. Visit www.jan.wvu.edu or call 800-526-7234.
