For workers with a chronic illness, returning to the office can be the hardest part

The workplace has a recovery problem. Most organizations know what to do when employees get sick. There are policies for leave, benefits for treatment, and a growing awareness around burnout. But when employees return, the support disappears, and that’s a mistake. Research shows that returning to work is not the end of recovery. It is a distinct phase—one where employees are often still dealing with cognitive strain, stress, dysregulation, and reduced capacity. Yet in most workplaces, reco...