Working From Home With RLS

Since receiving my diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS), I am sometimes cautious about who I tell.

For example, I don't tell my supervisor right away. I've had several jobs since the diagnosis and actually, I only tell them when asked or if it affects my work. It's not that I keep it a secret, but I don't flaunt it either.

I do this because you don't know how people will react. I have sometimes received strange reactions from colleagues or supervisors. They do not know what it means and already have their opinion ready. Usually, it is not true what they know about RLS and then say that it is all in your head.

Starting a new, work from home job

Since last year, I have had a new administrative job, working on the computer. Like many people, in these COVID-19 times, that means working from home.

I followed a training course online and met my colleagues mainly by phone and Zoom. This is the part I did miss a lot from working in the office – the contact with colleagues, the conversations that are not about work, and getting to know each other outside of work. But I find that working from home also has many advantages.

Advantages of working from home

I can do some household things in between work, accept packages, cuddle cats, no travel time, and go to work in pyjamas. But I also find it a great advantage that I can stand and walk for a while when my RLS is playing up, and no one sees it and asks about it. So this has happened on occasion. I've done several meetings while walking back and forth. Tip: do turn off the camera, so colleagues don't see it.

Talking to my supervisor about my RLS

I also worked on location for a few days, and unfortunately, my RLS and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) started acting up, so I had to walk back and forth in the back of the workspace. Luckily it was quiet, so I didn't have to sit at the computer. But my supervisor did have a bit of a strange look on his face and, at the end of the day, asked me what was going on.

I explained to him that I suffer from RLS and PLMD. He partly knew what that meant, but not completely. So this was another great opportunity to explain what it is. Fortunately, he was very understanding and he thought I should just do what I needed to do. So walking back and forth during working hours was not a problem for him.

When I talk about RLS

I, myself, only tell if I feel confident or if I suffer from my RLS and people ask about it. I never tell it in a job interview because I don't know how others will react to it and how it will affect my job prospects.

But I don't hide it either because I think RLS should be more widely known. So when colleagues ask about it, they get to know everything right away. If they are open to it, they understand it better and there is also more understanding. But there will always be people who don't understand and don't want to understand.