Organizational Meanings of Chronic Illness in a Middle Income Country

Abstract

Utilizing a constructivist grounded theory approach to collect and analyze interview data from human resource professionals; we explore the organizational meanings of chronic illness using the multi-level context of a middle income country. Employees with chronic illnesses are a growing global demographic, with guidelines, practices and policies being country specific. The paucity of international studies, particularly from low to middle income countries was impetus to uncover the dynamics that shape organizational meanings of chronic illness; and how this influences inclusion or exclusion from employment. We present a descriptive and interpretive analysis of 21 human resource professionals on their organization’s perceptions, practices and policies, with regards to managing employees with chronic illness. The data not only illustrates the role of context in shaping these organizational meanings, but also provides theoretical ideas on how relational dynamics between employers and employees influence the w...