For women working in an office environment, the
working postures and movements dictate how
well they function daily. If the workplace is set up
with ergonomic interventions in place, it can
reduce some of the pain and spasms that can ruin
the day. For example, if an office worker’s
monitor is too far back on the desktop, it can lead
to the worker leaning forward from the waist in
order to see the monitor screen, which can
debilitate the lower back muscles causing
spasms.
If you are a working woman with fibromyalgia
syndrome (FMS), it is important to know that
there are ways to accommodate you. I
recommend openly discussing fibromyalgia with
your supervisor and coworkers. Talking about the
symptoms of pain, fatigue, and stiffness can help
coworkers understand why you may have good
days and bad days from this “invisible” illness.
Here are a few accommodations for women
working with limitations from fibromyalgia,
provided by the Job Accommodation Network
(JAN) (jan@askjan.org). This is a free service from
the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability
Employment. For a more in-depth discussion,
access JAN's publications at
http://AskJAN.org/media/atoz.htm.
The following suggestions can be a good start in
the interactive process with your supervisor.
Together, you can find a successful
accommodation that helps you work without
fibromyalgia pain.
Concentration Issues:
Get written job instructions when possible
Prioritize job assignments
Ask for flexible work hours
Use memory aids such as schedulers or organizers
Fatigue/Weakness:
Identify, reduce or eliminate excessive physical exertion
Take advantage of work breaks, away from the workstation
Consider asking to work from home on bad days
Ask for an ergonomic evaluation to set up your workstation properly
Headaches:
Eliminate fluorescent lighting
Use task lighting
Use computer monitor glare guards
Ask management for a "fragrance-free" workplace policy
Place an air purification device in your office