Navigating a Career in Flexible Space with a Chronic Illness

March is Endometriosis Action Month. Endometriosis is a chronic and often painful condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus (the endometrium) starts to grow outside of the uterus. This abnormal growth can occur on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and organs within the pelvis. In rare cases it can be found outside the pelvic region. Our Marketing and Sales Executive Jessica writes about pursuing a career in the busy Flexible Space industry while living with Endometriosis.

Living with endometriosis can be challenging, especially as a 27-year-old trying to pursue a career in Marketing in a fast-paced industry like Flexible/Serviced Offices. In recent years, the condition has had more media attention (rightly so!), but there is a long way to go before proper treatments and care for the condition are developed, so that people living with Endometriosis can live pain-free.

My experience with Endo began around 2018, with many symptoms affecting my life before having laparoscopic excision. The big ones for me were issues with my periods (pains, heavy periods, nausea and stomach problems around my period and ovulation) as well as acute pain around my left ovary that was severe and chronic, rather than just having period cramps. Anybody with suspected or diagnosed endometriosis knows that the list of symptoms experienced can be lengthy, so here is a link to a full list of symptoms.

Living with endometriosis, especially pre-diagnosis, completely impacts your daily life which unfortunately means it impacts your working life and career. Sick days, doctors’ appointments, scans and struggling with symptoms all add up and effect your ability to show up as your best self at work and in everyday life.

However, having a strong support system at home and at work can make all the difference. In the workplace, having empathetic managers that understand the condition and are open to learning about it works to remove the taboo around menstrual health in the workplace, and flexible work options are pivotal in empowering employees to be at their best while living with the condition.

Embracing Flexibility

Serviced offices are inherently flexible and offer a range of facilities that can offer significant benefits to individuals with chronic illnesses like endometriosis. These environments can be particularly accommodating, providing a supportive workspace that can adapt with your needs.

Flexible terms

Serviced offices offers flexible terms, reducing the long-term commitment required from individuals or businesses. This kind of flexibility is crucial for someone with a chronic condition, as it allows them to adapt their work commitments to their health needs without the pressure of being locked into a rigid long-term lease.

Variety of workspaces

UBC Flexible Offices provide a range of workspaces, including private offices, co-working spaces and quiet break out areas. For someone with endometriosis, this variety allows them to choose a workspace that suits their needs at any time. For example, on a low pain day they may want to be in a more sociable co-working environment, but on another day when pain levels are high, they might prefer a private day office.

Administrative support

The availability of full office management, including reception services, mail handling and IT support, can alleviate the stress and physical demands of admin tasks. Extra support is a benefit for anyone looking at serviced office space but can particularly make a difference to the day-to-day life of someone with a chronic condition.

Adaptability to Individual Needs

Perhaps most importantly, UBC Flexible Offices offer a level of adaptability that is invaluable to someone managing a chronic illness. The ability to scale up or down depending on their current health situation, the ability to work in different spaces as needed and the overall supportive environment can significantly impact a individual’s ability to work effective while managing their condition.

In summary, UBC Flexible Offices provide a supportive, flexible and accommodating workspace solutions for individuals with chronic illnesses like endometriosis, so they can maintain their professional life in a way that progresses their career/business while prioritising health and wellbeing.