Workplace Accommodations: What You Need to Know for Health and Productivity

When someone has a chronic illness, injury, or disability, workplace accommodations, changes to a job or environment that let a person do their work safely and effectively. Also known as reasonable adjustments, these aren’t perks—they’re legal rights under the ADA and similar laws in many countries. Think of them as the difference between forcing someone to climb stairs every morning and giving them a ramp. It’s not about making things easier—it’s about making work possible.

These adjustments cover a wide range of needs. For someone with arthritis, it might mean a height-adjustable desk. For someone on dialysis, it could be flexible hours to attend medical appointments. People managing depression or anxiety might need quiet spaces or modified deadlines. Those with vision loss might use screen readers. Even someone recovering from surgery or dealing with long-term side effects from medication—like fatigue from chemotherapy or dizziness from blood pressure drugs—can qualify. Ergonomic adjustments, changes to furniture, tools, or work processes to reduce physical strain are one of the most common types. But disability accommodations, modifications that remove barriers for people with physical, cognitive, or mental health conditions go far beyond chairs and keyboards. They include remote work options, modified shift schedules, and even allowing service animals in the office.

Many people avoid asking for accommodations because they fear being seen as weak or difficult. But the truth is, most employers want to keep skilled workers—and they’re often surprised by how simple and cheap the fix can be. A standing desk costs less than a new laptop. A 15-minute schedule shift can prevent someone from quitting. The goal isn’t to overhaul your job—it’s to remove the roadblocks that have nothing to do with your ability to do it. And if you’re managing a condition like Parkinson’s, ulcerative colitis, or chronic pain from a past injury, these small changes can mean the difference between staying employed and losing your income.

The posts below show real examples of how health conditions affect daily work life—and how smart, simple adjustments make all the difference. You’ll find stories about managing side effects from medications like gabapentin or opioids, dealing with fatigue from autoimmune treatments like IVIG, and adjusting work routines for conditions like BPH or acromegaly. These aren’t abstract policies. They’re practical fixes that real people use every day to stay healthy, productive, and on the job.