This invisible career ceiling is holding women back

"An estimated 50 million Americans live with an autoimmune disease, and women make up 80% of those diagnosed. Chronic illness almost never enters the conversation, even though more people in the workforce are managing it than most employers realize."

"I've come to think of it as an autoimmune 'career ceiling.' Unlike the traditional glass ceiling, this one doesn't appear in a policy or a performance review. It shows up in small, private decisions women make alone, often without naming what's driving them."

"To put numbers to what many women experience, WellTheory partnered with Wakefield Research and the Autoimmune Association to conduct a national survey of 250 working women in the U.S. living with autoimmune disease. What we found was clear: 70% said their disease had limited their career potential."

"Almost two in five (39%) have reduced their hours, and nearly a third have moved to less demanding roles to accommodate their condition. Two out of three have stayed in a job they'd otherwise have left because they couldn't afford to lose their insurance."

Many women with autoimmune diseases face a unique career barrier, termed the autoimmune 'career ceiling.' This issue is often overlooked compared to caregiving and workplace bias. A survey revealed that 70% of women with autoimmune diseases felt their condition limited their career potential. Many have reduced their hours or taken less demanding roles. Financial concerns also play a role, as two-thirds of respondents stayed in jobs they would have left due to the risk of losing essential health insurance.

Read at Fast Company