Disclosing Episodic Disabilities in the Workplace

For many people – and for many employers – the term “episodic disabilities” is a new one. Episodic disabilities are chronic health conditions characterized by fluctuating periods and degrees of illness and wellness. These periods can be unpredictable in duration, types of symptoms and frequency of recurrence. For example, a person who is living with depression, arthritis, diabetes, HIV, or long Covid might be well for several months, only to experience several episodes of illness in a row.  Each episode may be different in terms of the symptoms experienced, how long it lasts, and how intense the symptoms are. There are multitudes of episodic disabilities affecting countless people daily. (Realize)

In fact, episodic disabilities are on the rise. On December 1^st, 2023, Statistics Canada released findings from the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD). The survey found that “27% of Canadians aged 15 years and older, or 8.0 million people, had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities. The rate of disability in Canada has increased by 5 percentage points since 2017.” (Statistics Canada, 2023) There is a complex array of factors driving this increase across the country, including the rising number of people reporting long-term effects of COVID infection, however, the two most significant factors Statistics Canada has identified are, “the aging population and the large increase in mental health-related disabilities among youth and working-age adults.”

It begs the question: how do employers create a safe environment for employee disclosure of episodic disabilities, so to not only glean understanding, but to provide support and accommodation?

This question is the deep dive Realize is making at this year’s edition of their free annual, ever-expanding, two-day virtual event, the 2025 National Summit on Episodic Disabilities and Employment taking place on March 19 and 20^th. Hundreds of attendees have already registered, a sign that conversation around episodic disabilities is much needed and wanted. Many business leaders have recognized this significant shift in the workforce but are still trying to figure out what it means. Current workplace practices and processes are often not adequate for these new workplace dynamics.

This is why Disclosure in Dialogue is the theme of the Summit this year. Attendees can expect to be enriched by the latest, leading-edge thinking on episodic disabilities in the workplace. The Summit aims to catalyze workplace change through sharing best practices, and by highlighting important research. It’s an online opportunity for Human Resource professionals, managers, other workplace leaders and employees living with episodic conditions to create links between valuable research and actionable workplace solutions. What attendees learn could support the creation of a more inclusive and accessible work environment for people living with episodic disabilities. 

Realize Canada’s National Lead, Episodic Disabilities, Melissa Egan, offers insight on the timeliness of the Summit from her unique perspective. “I get to see in my day-to-day just how many employees feel angst about how their episodic disabilities might affect their jobs, and just how many employers are learning about the increasing number of staff who experience episodic disability. It’s uncharted territory, and our Summit is lighting a way forward for both parties. People want to know best practices; they want to be disability-confident employers. Employees want a safe place in which to disclose, along with support, understanding and accommodation.

“I think that’s why, once again, we are enjoying a record number of participants – over 500 business leaders, HR professionals, researchers and many others have signed up already – even though the Summit is over a month away. Businesses that build flexibility into their HR systems and workplace practices are better able to adapt.”

Summit Details:

Dates: March 19 and 20, 2025
Times: 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET (both days)
Cost: FREE