Ep 103 - Working with Chronic Illness with Rebecca Kudyk

29% of working age people in the UK have a chronic illness and yet it is something that is rarely discussed or recognised within many workplaces.  In this week’s episode, I speak to Rebecca Kudyk who openly shares her personal experience with chronic illness and how she manages motherhood, a career in financial services and her unpredictable symptoms and pain. Rebecca shares helpful and practical advice for managers and workplaces on how they can support a team member with a chronic illness or disability. We also talk about grief, mental health and all the strengths that an employee with chronic illness can bring to the organisation. CONNECT WITH REBECCA Rebecca Kudyk is a 33-year-old wife and mum of a 3-year-old boy. She suffers from Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome) and anxiety and depression. Rebecca also has a career specialising in Conduct Risk within Financial Services. At 25, thanks to private healthcare at work, Rebecca was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in her knees. Since then, she has had 8 operations on her knees as well as my jaw. It is the physical trauma of the operations that doctors believe to be the cause of her fibromyalgia.    Connect on Instagram @chronically_bex: https://www.instagram.com/chronically_bex/ FREE MASTERCLASS: HOW TO BE A RESPECTED LEADER My popular free masterclass - How To Be A Respected Leader Without Being Any Less Likeable – is available to watch on demand for a limited time! Learn how to: Avoid the 3 BIG mistakes that are reducing your authority and gravitas as a leader Use my #1 tool for tackling difficult conversations Finally unlock the secret to being a respected leader without being any less likeable Watch The Masterclass: https://www.carlamillertraining.com/respected-leader PRE-ORDER MY BOOK My book, Closing the Influence Gap: A practical guide for women leaders who want to be heard, is now available for pre-order from most bookshops! I wrote this to empower women leaders to successfully navigate the workplace, lead their way and change it for the better. It is a reference tool packed with practical strategies and a troubleshooting section which women can draw on daily to tackle the challenging conversations, decisions and situations they face. Available in September – Pre-order your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Closing-Influence-Gap-practical-leaders/dp/1788603613/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32SFPA2L60FCM&keywords=closing+the+influence+gap&qid=1649087866&sprefix=closing+the+influence+gap%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1   CONNECT WITH ME LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlamiller1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisiscarlamiller/ Website: https://www.carlamillertraining.com/   HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE PODCAST? Subscribe Share this episode with a friend Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify   I would love to hear your feedback on this week’s podcast. Please leave a review or come say hello on social! Thank you for listening, see you next week!