The importance of speaking up: managing chronic illness in the workplace
Jordan Leis (he/him) is a first-year Electrical Engineering student. He discusses the difficulties of being a co-op student with a chronic illness and how to advocate for yourself effectively during your work terms.
Jordan's co-op journey:
Work term one: In his first work term, Jordan worked at Harding Instruments in Alberta as an engineering co-op student. Jordan designed circuit boards for individual pull fire alarms and products with the chief technology officer.
Q&A with Jordan:
What are some challenges that you experienced during co-op?
“My hometown is in Alberta, so I wanted to do a co-op work term there. I had this preconceived notion in my mind that finding a job out in the prairies would be easy. That it wouldn't be a huge deal and that options in Alberta would be all over WaterlooWorks.”
“Turns out, it’s a bit more challenging but I was eventually able to secure a co-op out there at Harding Instruments.”
“I was also diagnosed with ulcerative colitis during my first work term. Ulcerative colitis causes you to have chronic stomach pain and causes your appetite to be completely suppressed when it flairs up.”
“There were times I couldn’t eat for two days straight so I found I constantly had very low energy levels or when I couldn't come into work because the pain was so bad. All that obviously makes it hard to be in an office setting and work on a rigid schedule.”
“Thankfully, my peers were incredibly compassionate and so understanding of what I was going through. Even my supervisors were supportive.”
“My coworkers were always willing to lend a hand and help me out with projects. They also understood if I couldn't finish something on time or had to leave early.”
How did company culture differ from what you expected?
“I wasn’t expecting that much comradery and companionship coming into a corporate environment.”
“Software jobs make up a ridiculous percentage of the engineering co-op options. Also, usually, software companies are younger and more modern. They all use the agile methodology to get stuff done.”
“Harding, however, was established in 1967 and the employees are focused on maintaining the efficacy of the work that has made them successful for the last 57 years.“
“So, before my co-op started, I was expecting more of an old-fashioned culture, but that was not at all what I found.“
“People were so accepting and so willing to ask questions. Many wanted to learn more about my diagnosis and what they could do to help.”
“I wasn't expecting that from an older crowd and an older company. I expected them to look down on me if I was not able to get my own stuff done, but it was completely the opposite.”
How can students make the most of a welcoming corporate culture?
Many corporations are welcoming, but students don't know because they don't engage with their co-workers. It's so easy to isolate yourself from your peers by just working all day and then going home. So, talk to the people around you and participate with the community at your co-op.
“Even though it was a little bit tougher for me because I was the only co-op student and I was the youngest in the whole company by a good 15 years, engaging with my community ended up being one of the most rewarding parts of my work term.”
“It might be a little bit awkward at the beginning but try to put yourself out there because you will find allies. You may even become friends with people you wouldn’t expect.”
What would you tell other students who struggle with chronic conditions?
“Advocate for yourself.”
“I was so worried about being an inconvenience to my boss. In your first year, engineering students know very little about the industry so, you're trying to sell yourself as the lowest liability option. That pitch wouldn’t work for me as someone with chronic illnesses because my bosses would have to worry about me.”
“When I advocated for myself though, I found that most people were empathetic. They didn’t see me as a burden at all.”
“I understand the hesitation behind asking for help. Being a man, I was taught to be less inclined to want to share burdens and things I’m going through. When I finally spoke up and asked for the support that I needed, I got help instead of just being forced to suffer in silence.”
What’s next for you?
“I'll be working as a first-year engineering tutor for ECE-150 this upcoming fall. I really hope I can positively impact the next year of engineering students. I also recently joined the Cooperative and Experiential Education Student Council, where I will continue to advocate for students like myself suffering from chronic illness at the policy level.”
“I'm also looking forward to getting treatment for my for my ulcerative colitis this summer!”