Katie Thorpe is a 27-year-old woman living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. This diagnosis has completely altered her world. Sick from her illness and under attack at every turn, Thorpe remains really, really tough. She’s already determined to continue working for as long as her health permits. Her day starts with early morning radiation treatment, then getting to her new job 30 miles away in the city. Unfortunately, her story highlights a broader issue: chronic health conditions like cancer, depression, and migraines are costing the economy billions in lost productivity.
The impact of illnesses on the workforce is staggering, with recent studies indicating that lost productivity due to health issues exceeds $21 billion each year. This financial burden impacts women between the ages of 35 and 64 particularly hard. They experience a deep sense of loss when they go back to work after battling health issues. Chronic conditions such as sleep apnea and migraines further exacerbate this issue. They create significant disruptions in everyday work life.
The Economic Burden of Chronic Illness
Today, illnesses like depression and cancer are some of the most burdensome health concerns impacting today’s workforce, according to the latest research. According to Professor Alan Duncan, “We found that the aggregate impact in terms of lost productivity exceeded $21 billion per year.” He elaborated, stating that this loss occurs due to two main factors: absenteeism and reduced productivity among those who remain at work despite their conditions.
Chronic migraines, which impact one in three women, are a perfect example of this. The economic cost burden linked with migraines can exceed $53,000 per person over a 10-year span. Dr. Sarah White of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health highlighted the effect of migraines on the lives of women. She continued, “When a woman has a chronic migraine, she’s not just having a migraine and feeling it in her head, and then she’s got nausea, so she’s not able to go to work.”
Beyond migraines and cancer, reproductive health problems rank among the top contributors to the economic burden. These problems lead to annual costs of at least $21 billion. This is an astounding number that reflects the need for focused assistance for those who are impacted.
The Importance of Flexible Work Arrangements
Katie Thorpe’s employer has seen the value of hiring and creating a culture of inclusivity for those with health conditions. They provided her with different working options. This allowed her to take time off for treatment and to work from home when she needed to. That support has been a huge help. On the flip side, Professor Zanfina Ademi’s research indicates that adequate care and social support can do amazing things to enhance productivity.
During the first five years after a breast cancer diagnosis, women suffer a substantial decrease in productivity. On average, every year they lose half a year in terms of their productive capacity. Professor Ademi stated. She added, productivity got much better after this first transitional stretch. “That improved in the next five years, so then the productivity went up 73 percent.”
This data suggests that having access to appropriate care and flexible work arrangements can facilitate a smoother transition back to work after an illness and ultimately enhance overall productivity.
The Need for Comprehensive Care
Despite the show of support on the employer side, our fragmented healthcare system is making it increasingly difficult for people to return to work successfully. As Professor Ademi emphasized, “We need care that supports people to return to work, not just improve their productivity but their wellbeing.” This feeling rings true with research from several studies that have showcased the intricate relationship between health conditions and job performance.
Katie Thorpe’s story illustrates many of these unfortunate hurdles. She recalls a recent moment of optimism when she expected to get a new position. After explaining her need for flexibility due to her recent cancer diagnosis, she was disheartened. “Once I was a good chance at a role I talked to them about … having stage 4 metastatic breast cancer… it was crickets after that,” Thorpe recalled.
Even with these impediments, she is dedicated to her profession. “Work is such an important part of my life still. It’s obviously a necessity for things like paying my medical bills, being able to make the most of my life as it still remains,” she said.
