About this session
Talking about a health condition at work can feel complicated. An employee may need flexibility, adjustments or understanding, while also wanting to protect their privacy and avoid being defined by a diagnosis.
It may be unclear who needs to know, how much information is useful or how the conversation could affect future working relationships.
This session helps participants begin with the workplace issue rather than the entire medical history. They identify what is becoming difficult, what would help and which information a manager, HR contact or occupational-health professional may need to consider the request.
Participants prepare language for opening the conversation, responding to questions and documenting agreed next steps.
The session supports informed personal choices rather than suggesting that everyone should disclose a condition or that one approach will suit every workplace, role or health situation.
What your people take away
- Decide whether a workplace health conversation is needed and what it should achieve
- Separate relevant work information from private medical detail
- Describe health-related impact using clear, practical examples
- Ask for specific support, flexibility or workplace adjustments
- Record decisions and prepare for follow-up if needs change
Shared with you
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- What each length covers, 30 minutes to full day
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Prepare the Conversation You NeedA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Prepare the Conversation You Need: identify what is happening at work, decide what you are comfortable sharing and choose the right person and setting.
- Identify what is happening at work
- Decide what you are comfortable sharing
- Choose the right person and setting
Covers 3 of 4 points in Prepare the Conversation You Need.
60 minutes
The 60-minute session focuses on immediate preparation. Participants identify the workplace issue, decide what they are comfortable sharing and create a concise opening for a conversation with a manager, HR contact or another appropriate person.
- Module 1: Prepare the Conversation You Need
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 3 parts: Prepare the Conversation You Need.
90 minutes
The 90-minute session adds deeper exploration of workload, scheduling, attendance, treatment, flare-ups and workplace adjustments. Participants turn broad concerns into specific requests and prepare for likely questions.
- Module 1: Prepare the Conversation You Need
- Module 2: Explain the Impact and Ask for Practical Support
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 3 parts: Prepare the Conversation You Need and Explain the Impact and Ask for Practical Support.
3 hours
Covers all 3 parts.
Full day
The full-day session combines communication planning with boundaries, documentation and follow-up. Participants practice realistic workplace conversations and create a support plan that can be reviewed as health, treatment or job demands change.
- Module 1: Prepare the Conversation You Need
- Module 2: Explain the Impact and Ask for Practical Support
- Module 3: Agree, Document and Review the Support
- Live Q&A
Covers all 3 parts, in more depth, with more time to practice.
What’s covered
Prepare the Conversation You Need
Every length- Identify what is happening at workParticipants describe the practical issue they want to address, such as reduced concentration, difficulty traveling, treatment appointments, fluctuating symptoms or a task that has become harder to complete.
- Decide what you are comfortable sharingParticipants separate information that may help the workplace understand the request from details they would prefer to keep private.
- Choose the right person and settingParticipants identify whether the conversation belongs with a line manager, HR contact, occupational-health professional or another designated workplace contact.
- Define what you want from the conversationParticipants decide whether they need an initial discussion, temporary flexibility, a formal adjustment process, help prioritizing work or guidance on workplace procedures.
Explain the Impact and Ask for Practical Support
90 minutes and longer- Translate health into workplace informationParticipants explain how the condition affects tasks, attendance, travel, concentration, stamina, communication or recovery.
- Ask for support that matches the barrierParticipants connect each difficulty with a possible response, such as adjusted hours, additional breaks, remote participation, changed task sequencing, equipment, reduced travel or time for appointments.
- Prepare for fluctuating or unpredictable needsParticipants explain where capacity may vary and identify what could happen on a more difficult day.
- Respond to questions while keeping boundariesParticipants practice answering useful questions about work impact, timing and support while redirecting questions that feel unnecessarily personal.
Agree, Document and Review the Support
3 hours and longer- Clarify what has actually been agreedParticipants confirm the support, responsibilities, start date, duration and any conditions attached to the arrangement.
- Record the next stepsParticipants create a concise written summary covering what will change, who will arrange it and when progress will be reviewed.
- Prepare for different responsesParticipants consider how to respond if the manager needs more information, suggests another option, refers the request onward or cannot decide immediately.
- Review support as circumstances changeParticipants choose a suitable point for reviewing whether the arrangement is helping and whether job demands, symptoms or treatment have changed.
Who it’s for
- Employees considering whether and how to discuss a health condition at work
- People who need flexibility, adjustments or understanding while protecting privacy
- Anyone preparing for a conversation with a manager, HR contact or occupational-health professional
- Employees wanting practical language for describing work impact without oversharing
- Teams building long-term condition or chronic-health wellbeing campaigns
- Organizations offering workplace communication education with appropriate clinical boundaries
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Talking About Your Health at Work: What to Share and How to Ask for Support
How long is Talking About Your Health at Work: What to Share and How to Ask for Support?
Talking About Your Health at Work: What to Share and How to Ask for Support runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Prepare the Conversation You Need: identify what is happening at work, decide what you are comfortable sharing and choose the right person and setting. A 60-minute session covers Prepare the Conversation You Need in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Explain the Impact and Ask for Practical Support. A 3-hour session adds Agree, Document and Review the Support. A full-day session covers everything, in more depth, with more time to practice.
Can Talking About Your Health at Work: What to Share and How to Ask for Support be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Talking About Your Health at Work: What to Share and How to Ask for Support?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Talking About Your Health at Work: What to Share and How to Ask for Support to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.