At our May Virtual Education Session, employment lawyer and workplace safety advocate Fay Calderone shared expert insights into psychosocial safety in the modern workplace, particularly for people living with chronic illness and scleroderma.
This session focused on understanding psychosocial hazards at work, including workplace stress, burnout, fear, lack of support, and the impact these challenges can have on both mental and physical health. Attendees learned about legal protections under Australian workplace laws, reasonable workplace adjustments, and the importance of consultation, flexibility, and psychologically safe environments. The discussion also explored the emotional realities of living with chronic illness in professional settings, navigating NDIS support, and advocating for individual needs. The session highlighted the importance of self-care, workplace inclusion, open communication, and empowering people with scleroderma to prioritise their wellbeing while remaining informed, supported, and connected.
Living with scleroderma can affect far more than your physical health – it can also impact your confidence, stress levels, finances, relationships, and workplace experience.
What Is Psychosocial Safety?
Psychosocial safety means creating a workplace where people feel safe to:
- Ask for flexibility or adjustments
- Speak up about challenges
- Report bullying, discrimination, or unsafe behavior
- Work without fear of punishment or shame
As Fay Calderone explained, psychosocial safety is fundamentally about ensuring humans are safe at work – especially those living with chronic illness or disability.
For people with scleroderma, this matters deeply because stress, fear, and workplace pressure can affect both mental and physical health.
Why Workplace Stress Matters for People with Scleroderma
Stress is not “just emotional.” The session explored how chronic stress activates the body’s threat response system, increasing cortisol and adrenaline levels. Over time, this can contribute to exhaustion, burnout, and flare-ups in autoimmune conditions like scleroderma.
Fay described three stages of stress:
- Alarm phase – feeling threatened or unsafe
- Resistance phase – trying to cope and recover
- Exhaustion phase – burnout, fatigue, and reduced ability to adapt
Living with a chronic illness can create significant emotional pressure in the workplace. Many people navigate challenges such as feeling unsupported at work, repeatedly explaining their condition, concerns about job security, and the ongoing pressure of managing invisible symptoms while maintaining workplace expectations.
Common Workplace Psychosocial Hazards
Common psychosocial hazards that can negatively affect wellbeing include:
- High workloads and unrealistic demands
- Lack of role clarity
- Poor workplace support
- Fear-based leadership
- Bullying or discrimination
- Lack of flexibility
- Unfair performance management
- Constant workplace change or uncertainty
Fay explained that burnout is not caused only by long hours. Unfair treatment, lack of support, insecurity, and unreasonable pressure also contribute significantly.
Reasonable Adjustments and Workplace Flexibility
An important message highlighted throughout the discussion was that people should never feel ashamed for needing workplace adjustments or support.
Examples of workplace adjustments may include:
- Flexible working hours
- Working from home
- Additional breaks
- Modified workloads
- Adjusted deadlines
- Temperature control for Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Ergonomic equipment
Fay also discussed the concept of universal design – creating flexible workplaces that benefit everyone, not only people with disability or chronic illness.
Legal Protections for Employees with Chronic Illness
The session covered several important legal protections available under Australian workplace laws.
These include:
- Protection from discrimination based on disability
- Protection from unfair dismissal
- Rights to request reasonable adjustments
- Workplace health and safety obligations for employers
Importantly, employers have a proactive obligation to assess psychosocial risks and create safe working environments.
Fay explained that under the Fair Work Act, employers cannot take adverse action against someone because of a protected attribute, including physical or psychological disability.
Challenges Accessing NDIS Support
The discussion also explored the difficulties many people face when applying for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) support.
Some of the common challenges include:
- Long assessment delays
- Repeated requests for supporting evidence
- Limited understanding of autoimmune diseases
- The complexity and variability of scleroderma symptoms
One significant challenge is that scleroderma does not follow a simple or predictable path, which can make it difficult to fit within rigid assessment frameworks and eligibility criteria.
The importance of clear documentation and ongoing self-advocacy was also highlighted, including:
- Keeping detailed medical records
- Simplifying complex medical information where possible
- Seeking guidance and support from relevant advocacy and support organisations
The “CRAP” Framework for Wellbeing
To close the session, Fay Calderone shared her personal wellbeing framework called “CRAP” – a simple but powerful reminder for living sustainably with chronic illness.
Courage
Learning what to say yes or no to based on your energy and capacity.
Rest
Prioritising sleep, self-care, exercise, and recovery.
Authenticity
Connecting honestly with others instead of pretending everything is okay.
Purpose
Finding meaning and focusing on what truly matters to you.
This framework resonated strongly with attendees navigating the realities of chronic illness and workplace pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is psychosocial safety at work?
Psychosocial safety refers to a workplace where employees feel safe, respected, supported, and able to speak up without fear of negative consequences.
2. Can workplace stress affect scleroderma symptoms?
Yes. Chronic stress can contribute to fatigue, burnout, and physical flare-ups in autoimmune conditions.
3. What are reasonable adjustments at work?
Reasonable adjustments are changes made to help employees perform their role safely and effectively, such as flexible work arrangements or modified workloads.
4. Do employers have legal obligations to support employees with chronic illness?
Yes. Employers have workplace health and safety obligations and must consider reasonable adjustments unless they cause unjustifiable hardship.
5. Why is NDIS access difficult for people with scleroderma?
Scleroderma symptoms can vary greatly between individuals, making it difficult to fit into rigid assessment frameworks.
6. What should I do if I feel unsafe or unsupported at work?
Document your concerns, seek support, speak with your employer if safe to do so, and consider accessing legal or advocacy support if needed.
TL;DR (Quick Summary)
Psychosocial safety in the workplace is especially important for people living with scleroderma and other chronic illnesses. During this Virtual Education Session, employment lawyer Fay Calderone explained how workplace stress, fear, burnout, and lack of support can affect both mental and physical health, including autoimmune flare-ups. The session explored psychosocial hazards, legal protections under Australian workplace laws, reasonable workplace adjustments, and the importance of speaking up about individual needs. Discussions also highlighted the challenges many people face accessing NDIS support and navigating invisible illness in professional environments. Ultimately, the session encouraged people living with scleroderma to prioritise self-care, seek support, advocate for themselves, and remember that safe, inclusive workplaces benefit everyone.
Conclusion
Living with scleroderma while navigating work, health systems, and everyday life can feel overwhelming at times.
It is important to remember that:
- Your wellbeing matters
- Psychological safety matters
- Flexibility and support are not unreasonable requests
- No one should feel unsupported while managing a chronic illness
Creating safer, healthier, and more inclusive workplaces benefits everyone – especially people living with chronic illness.
For those living with Scleroderma, staying updated and informed can make a world of difference. Connecting with others can also be hugely beneficial. Find out more about support in your area by clicking here.
If you’d like to gain firsthand knowledge, our National Education Sessions and Virtual Education Sessions are available to you at no charge. Our Virtual Education Sessions are held every month through Google Meet. You can sign up for these free Virtual Education Sessions by clicking here.
These sessions provide an opportunity to engage with medical professionals and seasoned legal experts who will address common inquiries about Scleroderma and related topics.