Practical Reasons to Disclose
Sometimes people have very practical reasons for wanting to disclose information about their medical condition or impairment on the job — to take advantage of available legal protections, for example, or to request time off to deal with medical problems or appointments. Although disclosing now may be helpful or even necessary in some circumstances, it may also be advisable to delay disclosure by making optimal use of vacation time and sick days.
Possible Reasons to Disclose Now
- You may endanger your health by not getting the medical care you need.
- Your job status or reputation may be negatively impacted if your work is slipping or your evaluations are poor and you need assistance to improve your performance.
- You need to disclose information about your medical condition or impairment in order to take advantage of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — resources that will help you maintain your employment.
Possible Reasons to Delay Disclosure
- You’re currently experiencing an exacerbation that you could ride out by using your vacation and sick time, making disclosure unnecessary at this time.
