HS in Customer-Facing Jobs
Retail, healthcare, hospitality, food service, and teaching all present unique challenges for people with HS. This section addresses them directly.
Much of the general advice about HS in the workplace assumes a desk job. But a significant proportion of people with HS work in physically demanding, customer-facing roles where the challenges are different and the accommodations require more creativity.
This section is for you. It covers the specific challenges of four major customer-facing sectors and provides practical strategies for each one.
By Sector
Retail and Sales
Common Challenges
- Extended standing and walking on hard floors
- Required uniforms that may include tight waistbands or synthetic fabrics
- High-visibility roles where symptoms may be noticed by customers
- Limited access to private spaces for wound care during shifts
Practical Strategies
- Request anti-fatigue mats at your workstation as a reasonable accommodation.
- Ask for a dress code modification to allow looser, breathable clothing in the same color scheme.
- Identify the most private restroom or break room for mid-shift wound care.
- Speak with your manager proactively about flare days and flexible scheduling options.
Healthcare and Clinical Roles
Common Challenges
- Long shifts with extended standing and walking
- Strict infection control requirements that intersect with wound management
- Physical demands of patient care that may be difficult during flares
- Scrubs and clinical attire that may not accommodate all HS presentations
Practical Strategies
- Work with occupational health at your institution to develop a wound management protocol that meets infection control standards.
- Request schedule modifications or role adjustments during severe flares.
- Many healthcare employers have formal accommodation processes. Use them.
- Speak with your dermatologist about wound care protocols that are compatible with clinical work.
Hospitality and Food Service
Common Challenges
- Hot, humid kitchen environments that worsen HS symptoms
- Required uniforms and non-slip footwear that may cause friction
- Physical demands of standing, carrying, and moving quickly
- Limited break flexibility during busy service periods
Practical Strategies
- Request placement in cooler areas of the kitchen or front-of-house when possible.
- Ask about uniform modifications, particularly around waistbands and footwear.
- Identify the least busy periods for wound care breaks.
- If heat is a primary trigger, document this for your accommodation request.
Teaching and Education
Common Challenges
- Extended standing and walking between classrooms
- Limited ability to step away from a class for wound care
- Physical education or hands-on roles with additional demands
- Emotional labor of teaching combined with chronic pain and fatigue
Practical Strategies
- Request a stool or seating option at the front of the classroom.
- Work with your department head to identify coverage options for brief breaks during flares.
- Plan wound care around class schedules rather than during instruction time.
- Document the functional impact of HS on your teaching duties for accommodation purposes.
If a Customer Complains
Customer-facing workers with HS sometimes face the additional stress of customer reactions to their symptoms. Here is how to handle it.
You are not required to explain your medical condition to a customer.
If a customer raises a concern about your appearance or odor, a calm, professional response is: 'Thank you for letting me know. I will take care of it.' Then inform your manager.
Your manager should handle customer complaints about medical symptoms through the accommodation process, not through discipline.
If you are disciplined for a medical symptom without your employer first engaging in the accommodation process, document it and consult an employment attorney.
Proactively discussing a flare plan with your manager before it is needed makes these situations easier to navigate.