One in three Canadians living with arthritis have had to quit working as a result of their condition, according to The Arthritis Society’s Fit for Work study.
“Today, roughly 4.6 million Canadians—from the elderly to the surprisingly young—live with one or more of the 100 different types of arthritis,” said Janet Yale, president and CEO of The Arthritis Society, speaking at the Economic Club on November 29. “That’s one out of every eight of us making arthritis the leading cause of long-term disability in our country.”
The survey also found that 55% of those with arthritis go to work despite being in pain or discomfort, which can impact businesses financially. “Arthritis devastates budgets, bottom lines and our national productivity,” said Yale, pointing to a study by the Arthritis Alliance of Canada that found the economic costs of arthritis to be more than $33 billion a year—or 2.7% of our annual GDP.
“Canadians living with arthritis want to work, and, with only a few adjustments, many can work,” said Yale.
The Arthritis Society says a holistic approach is key in the management of the disorder; however, the study found that 30% of those who tried to access treatment were unable to access physiotherapists and occupational therapists, mainly due to out-of-pocket costs (81%). Also, one out of four of those who tried to access treatment said they were unable to access prescription medication because of out-of-pocket costs (61%).
“To create an arthritis-friendly workplace in deed and not only words will require—above all else—an increased commitment from employers,” said Yale. “The sorts of accommodations we’re talking about are far from radical.” Her recommendations are as follows:
- ensure insurance plans allow for affordable and early access to medications, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other proven treatments;
- create workspaces that are ergonomic to help relieve rather than aggravate the symptoms;
- implement a flexible work environment that allows work-from-home for employees who need it; and
- take proactive steps to educate others in the workplace about the condition.
Get more survey information from The Arthritis Society.