The Hidden Workforce Impact of Autoimmune Disease on Women

Autoimmune disease is often seen as a health issue. For millions of women, it is also shaping careers, limiting opportunities, and influencing major life decisions.

A new survey conducted by WellTheory in partnership with the Autoimmune Association shows how autoimmune disease is reshaping the workplace and why this is both a healthcare and economic issue that cannot be ignored.

A Career Impact Too Significant to Overlook

Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, accounting for nearly 80% of those diagnosed.

For many, these conditions do more than affect health; they change the course of a career.

According to the survey:

• 70% of working women say their career potential has suffered
• 68% report negative effects at work after diagnosis

These impacts show up in real ways:

• 39% have reduced their hours
• 28% have switched to less demanding roles
• 14% have changed careers
• 13% have turned down a promotion
• 11% have left the workforce

These are long-term shifts that affect earning potential and career progression.

For Natalie Romero, 42, those numbers feel personal.

Natalie built her career as an account manager at a tech company, working long hours and managing multiple clients. But after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her early thirties, everything changed. Frequent flare-ups and unpredictable fatigue made it difficult to maintain the same pace.

“I went from leading big projects and working full time to cutting my hours just to get through the week,” she said. “There are days when I don’t know if I’ll be able to sit through a meeting without needing to step away. It’s not that I don’t want to do more. My body just won’t let me.”

Today, Natalie works part time. It allows her to manage her symptoms, but it also came with a loss of income and fewer opportunities to grow in her career.

The Invisible Burden in the Workplace

Autoimmune disease is often invisible, but its impact is constant.

• 61% say their symptoms affect their ability to function at work every day or most days

Symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, and brain fog can make it difficult to keep up with daily expectations. Many women continue working without the support they need.

• 61% have chosen not to disclose their condition to their employer

The reasons behind that silence are clear:

• 41% believe disclosure will not help
• 32% fear being judged
• 28% worry about being passed over for opportunities

Employees are managing serious health challenges while employers often remain unaware.

The Financial Reality of Living with Autoimmune Disease

For many women, career decisions are tied directly to access to care.

• 68% have stayed in a job because they needed health insurance
• 76% report experiencing financial strain due to their condition

This highlights a critical issue at the intersection of autoimmune disease and health insurance. When coverage is tied to employment, people may feel stuck in roles that do not support their health.

It also reinforces the need for stronger health policy solutions that ensure access to affordable and consistent care.

The Cost to Employers and the Healthcare System

This is not only a patient issue. It is a workforce issue. Autoimmune disease contributes to missed work, lower productivity, and higher healthcare costs.

In fact, autoimmune conditions account for 50% of specialty drug spending, placing a significant burden on employers and the healthcare system.

As diagnoses continue to rise, the need for better chronic care models in the workplace becomes more urgent.

A Better Path Forward

These findings reinforce what the autoimmune community already knows: People living with autoimmune disease are doing everything they can to keep working while managing complex conditions.

What needs to change is the system around them.

At the policy level, we need solutions that reflect the reality of living with chronic illness. That means expanding access to affordable care, ensuring continuity of coverage, and advancing health policy that reduces financial burden and supports long-term disease management. No one should be forced to stay in a job solely to keep their health insurance, or delay care because of cost.

At the Autoimmune Association, we are working to advance research, expand access to care, and advocate for policies that improve coverage.

Employers also have a critical role to play. Creating workplaces where employees feel safe to disclose their condition is essential. That starts with awareness and leads to meaningful support such as flexible schedules, reasonable accommodations, and access to comprehensive health benefits that recognize the complexity of autoimmune disease.

This is not just about improving individual outcomes. It is about strengthening the workforce and building systems that work for people, not against them.

Because when women with autoimmune disease are supported, they are able to stay in their careers, contribute at their full potential, and build the futures they have worked toward.