About
Flexible work hours and part-time schedules help employees manage chronic pain and fatigue by allowing them to adjust their working hours to periods when they feel more physically able. For individuals with conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or chronic back pain, these accommodations enable them to avoid overexertion and work within their physical limits.
Flexible hours can also allow time for rest or medical appointments, helping to reduce physical strain and prevent flare-ups of symptoms.
By giving employees the option to work during their most energetic hours or reduce their total hours, flexibility supports ongoing employment, reduces stress, and promotes a healthier work-life balance. This arrangement is particularly beneficial for individuals whose symptoms fluctuate or who need to schedule activities around pain management, physical therapy, or rest periods.
Costs and Funding
The cost of implementing flexible work hours is minimal, aside from the potential need for adjustments to team scheduling or workload distribution.
In some cases, employers may seek financial assistance from government programs such as the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF), which can support any disability-related adjustments needed to implement flexible schedules. For NDIS participants, funding may be available through Capacity Building supports under the Supports in Employment category, which can assist with employment-related flexibility needs.
Additionally, various employment services like JobAccess and Disability Employment Services may help provide advice or funding for reasonable adjustments to work schedules for individuals with chronic pain or fatigue.
Employment Services
These government programs support people with disabilities in securing and maintaining employment. Funding can be provided to support workplace adjustments.
If you are an employability practitioner supporting a client via one of the employment service programs (DES, Workforce Australia, TTW etc) you have access to funds to support your client, however, the amounts and limitations on funding vary based on the client’s circumstances, the provider you work for and the contract you operate in.
If you work in DES, it is important to note that you have very flexible funding options available to support the client’s ability to find and keep work and should use that flexibility as creatively as possible.
Related Accommodations
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