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.