tl;dr - I have RSI in my forearms and wrists. I get flare ups that slow me down, but on average it is manageable. I am looking for a new job. When/how do I let my prospective employer know?
About ten years ago I injured my wrists and forearms really bad. It was so bad that I couldn't open a door without excruciating pain. I was working only 10 hours a week at the time, so somehow i hung onto my job and after a year was able to up my hours to 25/week. About 5-6 years ago, I was healed enough that I could actually type pretty normally, but I stayed part time until about 8 months ago. Going full time has worked out ok.
I get flare ups now and then that slow me down to the point where I will consciously try to avoid typing as much as practical. It usually takes 2-3 days for the flare up to subside, but can be up to several weeks. At my current job I telecommute, and have several hour+ meetings (ie: no typing), and some days there's just not a lot of work to do, so it has been really easy. The problem is I am bored out of my mind, and unhappy at work--I've been stagnating for a couple years now. I've been itching to find a new job, but I'm worried that when I find one, it'll wind up being too much for me, and then I'll be out of luck and unemployed with a family to provide for.
Even with these concerns, I'm unhappy enough at my current job that I have started looking, and already have some phone screens scheduled this week. At what point do I need to bring up my RSI issues to my prospective employer? Has anyone gone through a similar experience?
Thanks!
ps - I'm having a flare up right now, so forgive me if I am not very vocal in the comments.
Assuming you are in the U.S., this FAQ on the Americans with Disabilities Act as it pertains to job applicants may be of use to you: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/jobapplicant.html
First time posting here, so please be gentle!
tl;dr - I have RSI in my forearms and wrists. I get flare ups that slow me down, but on average it is manageable. I am looking for a new job. When/how do I let my prospective employer know?
About ten years ago I injured my wrists and forearms really bad. It was so bad that I couldn't open a door without excruciating pain. I was working only 10 hours a week at the time, so somehow i hung onto my job and after a year was able to up my hours to 25/week. About 5-6 years ago, I was healed enough that I could actually type pretty normally, but I stayed part time until about 8 months ago. Going full time has worked out ok.
I get flare ups now and then that slow me down to the point where I will consciously try to avoid typing as much as practical. It usually takes 2-3 days for the flare up to subside, but can be up to several weeks. At my current job I telecommute, and have several hour+ meetings (ie: no typing), and some days there's just not a lot of work to do, so it has been really easy. The problem is I am bored out of my mind, and unhappy at work--I've been stagnating for a couple years now. I've been itching to find a new job, but I'm worried that when I find one, it'll wind up being too much for me, and then I'll be out of luck and unemployed with a family to provide for.
Even with these concerns, I'm unhappy enough at my current job that I have started looking, and already have some phone screens scheduled this week. At what point do I need to bring up my RSI issues to my prospective employer? Has anyone gone through a similar experience?
Thanks!
ps - I'm having a flare up right now, so forgive me if I am not very vocal in the comments.