Two booklets, one for employers and one for employees, have been launched by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society to help people living with the disabling disease to stay in work for longer.
The guides are published in response to a survey of nearly 1,000 people by the society that found nearly a third had given up work because of rheumatoid arthritis. More than a quarter stopped working within one year of diagnosis, and half within six years.
More than eight out of 10 of people still employed had either already experienced or anticipated experiencing key barriers to remaining in employment.
Just half said they had been offered support to help them make changes to working conditions or equipment to make their work easier.
And 13% said their employers had wanted them to leave.
