Unmet Workplace Accommodation Needs and Work Outcomes Across Sectors in Individuals with Systemic Sclerosis

Objectives The objectives of this study were to examine unmet workplace accommodation needs and their association with work outcomes among individuals with SSc across employment sectors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of people with SSc. Using a standardized questionnaire, trained research assistants conducted telephone interviews collecting information about demographics, disease characteristics, work context, support and accommodation availability, needs and use, disclosure of health needs to supervisors. Workplace outcomes included presenteeism, job disruptions and absenteeism. Linear regressions examined the association of unmet accommodation needs with workplace outcomes. Results There were 210 participants (80.9% women) with SSc with 10.5 (SD 8.2) mean years disease duration. Most (n=151, 73.0%) worked full time. Participants worked in education, science, arts, or research (n=75, 35.7%); government, financial, technology, business (n=67, 31.9%); sales, retail, or services (n=40, 19.1%); and utilities, construction, or manufacturing (n=28, 13.3%). Forty-five percent of respondents reported unmet workplace support needs. Participants working in sales, retail or services had the highest proportion of unmet needs (60.0%) compared to those working in government, financial, technology or business (40%). Participants working in government, banking, or insurance who reported unmet needs had significantly higher job disruption scores (on average 1.35 points higher) and higher presenteeism scores (on average 1.26 points higher) than those without unmet needs. Among participants in education, science, arts, or research those with unmet needs reported presenteeism scores (averaging 1.52 points higher). Participants in sales, retail, or service roles with unmet needs had presenteeism scores averaging 2.03 points higher than those without unmet needs (Table 1). Disclosure of the diagnosis of SSc to supervisors did not differ significantly between those with and without unmet needs. Table 1. Association of unmet workplace accommodations and work productivity Conclusion In general, unmet workplace accommodation needs were associated with job productivity across different job sectors. Unmet needs in the sales, retail or services sector appear to be greater than in the government, financial, technology or business sector. To support the productive employment of people with SSc, interventions should target workplace support needs across different job sectors.