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Chronic fatigue and working
Fatigue at work is a normal everyday experience and a common complaint. However, in the case of severe and chronic fatigue it may affect the person's performancein the occupational setting; it may lead to long term sick leave and work disability.
Recent studies showed that cases are frequently met in older, lower education employees. The mean age of the employees with CFS diagnosis is 43.6; 55 percent of them are female and the majority had a high (45%) or medium educational level (45%).
Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by persistent medically unexplained fatigue for at least six months, several unexplained symptoms (sore throat, headache, painful joints) and severe functional impairment, fact that makes employees no longer able to adequately meet the demands that the job require. Or they are able to meet these demands only at the cost of increasing mental effort and psychic resistance.
Working people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome must take into account some aspects that could help them: resisting extra commitments, not making long term decisions about work when unwell, streamlining home life and readjusting timescales.
The attitude of the colleagues is very important. If they are sympathetic, if they try to understand the isolation of an illness without diagnostic tests and known cure and if the are encouraging of progress, however small, they may help the chronic fatigue sufferer feel better and be more efficient in his tasks. | 
