Asthma & stigma in the workplace

Amy developed asthma after getting sick from COVID.

“Last year, I had oral steroids. Three times. I am struggling again this winter and becoming unable to attend work,” she told us.

Amy nearly reached the threshold for potentially toxic effects of oral steroids in just one year. Needing an oral steroid course just four times in your lifetime puts you at a much higher risk of severe side effects. Read more about how to reduce your chance of having an asthma flare-up and needing oral steroids here.

Triggers of asthma in the workplace

One of Amy’s asthma triggers is cold air. Working from home instead of coming into the office can help Amy avoid this asthma trigger. But mandatory office days prevent flexibility – even when her asthma flares up.

“My life becomes more difficult when HR… fails to understand that exposure to cold temp will worsen the symptoms when [my asthma is] not well-controlled.”

When Amy is too unwell to come into the office, she needs to take sick leave, even when she is well enough to work from home.

“Taking [too much sick leave] is also seen as excessive absences and negatively impacts my career.”

As well as juggling her asthma management, Amy has a young child with autism.

“The people who are behind this and pushing us to [go] to the office [don’t] realise how difficult it is for a young family with disabilities and [a] working mum with asthma. Blanket rules don’t work for everyone.”

Asthma stigma at work is a common issue

Asthma Australia conducted a survey about asthma stigma in 2022. The survey found that one in two people think their workplace does not consider asthma as a valid reason to take sick leave.

The survey also found that while most Australians (95%) are supportive of people using their asthma inhaler in public, almost half of people (48%) who have asthma, or care for someone with asthma, say they would feel uncomfortable to use an asthma inhaler in public.

Asthma Australia strongly encourages workplaces to be more transparent about asthma in their leave policies and to encourage flexible work to reduce asthma stigma in the workplace.

To support people with asthma in your workplace, read our blog “6 ways you can support a friend or coworker with asthma”.

If you are an employer, or an employee living with asthma, you can also read Asthma Australia’s workplace statement here.

*Name changed for privacy