Why employees hide chronic pain to meet workplace norms‎

Workers in chronic pain often choose to conceal it and continue working as though nothing were wrong, according to new research led by the University of Delaware. Drawing on a survey of 66 workers living with chronic pain, the authors explored how hidden expectations shape everyday work experiences. Their participants came from a wide range of occupations, but despite these differences, they faced similar pressures: Their bodies had to conform to a standard of uninterrupted functionality.