I didn't go back to work until a year and a half after my ostomy surgery. Going into surgery, I was severely malnourished, and honestly, recovery just took everything out of me. When I finally felt ready to return, I had one main worry: would my employer actually support me with the accommodations I needed? Learning about my workplace rights changed everything for me. If you're heading back to work with an ostomy, knowing what protections exist can help you feel way more confident.

Your Legal Protections

Having an ostomy is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States and is protected under the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) in Canada. This means your employer cannot discriminate against you and must work with you to provide reasonable accommodations. For details, visit the EEOC (US) or CHRC (Canada).

What Employers CAN vs. CANNOT Do

What Employers CANNOT Do:

  • Ask for specific details about your medical condition
  • Require you to disclose your ostomy during interviews
  • Ask about your medical history or treatments
  • Refuse reasonable accommodations without good cause
  • Discriminate against you for having an ostomy
  • Share your medical information with other employees
  • Retaliate against you for requesting accommodations

What Employers CAN Do:

  • Ask if you can perform essential job functions
  • Request documentation for accommodation requests
  • Discuss how to implement accommodations
  • Ask about accommodation effectiveness
  • Require you to meet job performance standards
  • Deny accommodations that cause "undue hardship"
  • Keep accommodation discussions confidential

Requesting Accommodations

Accommodations are just adjustments that help you do your job. Things like flexible bathroom breaks, a desk near the restroom, time off for medical appointments, or working from home while you recover.

When you request accommodations, you don't have to explain your whole medical situation. You just need to say what limitations you have and what would help. Your doctor can write a letter that explains what you need without going into all the details about your ostomy. Most employers want to work with you on this.

For me, working from home helped me manage my energy levels. My employer was hesitant at first (it was a small company and they hadn't dealt with this situation before), so they put me on a six-month trial. I was nervous to ask for this, but I focused on proving I could still do great work. After the trial, they were impressed and made work-from-home a permanent accommodation. Sometimes it takes showing what you can do to build that trust. We were figuring it out together, and it worked out.

Quick Steps

  1. Identify your functional limitations (not your diagnosis).
  2. Get a support letter from your doctor if needed.
  3. Contact HR or your manager in writing (creates a paper trail).
  4. Collaborate on solutions that work for both parties.
  5. Follow up to ensure accommodations are implemented.

If Challenges Arise

If accommodation requests aren't going smoothly, start by having an open conversation with your manager or HR. Sometimes misunderstandings happen, or they might not fully grasp what you need. Try to find common ground first.

Keep records of your conversations (save emails and write down key points from meetings) in case you need them later. If talking it through doesn't help, follow your company's internal accommodation request procedures or grievance process.

If you've tried everything and still aren't getting what you need, you can reach out to the EEOC (US) or CHRC (Canada) for help. There are also employment lawyers who focus on disability rights, and many will talk to you for free. But hopefully it doesn't get to that point.

Disclosure Is Your Choice

You don't have to tell your employer about your ostomy. Even if you need accommodations, you only need to say what you need help with (like bathroom access), not your diagnosis. Sharing more is completely up to you and depends on how comfortable you feel and on your workplace.

If I could go back and tell myself one thing, it would be this: keep the intimate medical details private. Just tell them what you need (like "I need flexible bathroom access"), not your whole medical history. You don't owe them that. Your ostomy doesn't change who you are or how capable you are. You're still the same person.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Having an ostomy doesn't make you any less valuable as an employee. Knowing your rights helps you speak up for what you need while keeping good relationships at work. When you communicate clearly and work together with your employer, you can do really well in your career while taking care of your health.

If you're a young person about to go back to work after ostomy surgery, here's what I wish someone had told me: know your worth. Stay confident in who you are and what you're capable of. You can still do excellent work with the right accommodations. What helped me feel more confident was showing up and proving to myself (and honestly, to my employer too) that I was still the same capable person I'd always been. You are, too.