Episode 9: Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at Work: Integrating Lived Experience with Psychological Science
Episode Description
Join us for the ninth episode in the Insight Series hosted by the East of England Branch, where this episode will explore Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) as a distinct workplace condition, using both research evidence and lived experience to highlight its unique challenges.
Participants will gain insight into the psychological and organisational barriers faced by employees with CFS and how these impact work and wellbeing.
The episode will also examine practical workplace solutions, including supportive leadership, inclusive HR policies, and key priorities for future research and action.
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 14.00 - 15.00
Duration: 1 hour
This episode is free to Society members.
This episode is available to book until 12.30 on Wednesday 28 October 2026 and is available in English only.
Any bookings after the 12.30 on Wednesday 28 October 2026, will have access to the recording
Non-members: £10.00 (Inc VAT)
Not yet a member? Join today to access this episode and the full Insight Series.
What will this episode cover?
Although CFS has received attention in several domains, a clear gap remains in understanding how the condition affects people in the workplace. Existing research has largely focused on adolescents living with CFS (e.g., Jelbert et al., 2010; Winger et al., 2014) or on adults managing the condition in everyday life (e.g., Arroll & Senior, 2008; Larun et al., 2007). Beyond these, one study presented a personal narrative from a practitioner (Sirotiak, 2023), highlighting how rarely lived experience is integrated into scholarly discussions. When turning specifically to the workplace, the literature becomes even more limited. A small number of studies offer important but fragmented insights, underscoring both the relevance of CFS for working life and the substantial gaps in empirical knowledge (e.g., Surendran & Jose, 2025; Stevelink et al., 2022; Taylor & Kielhofner, 2005).
To address this gap, our current work draws on a systematic literature review of all publications examining CFS in work-related contexts. During the seminar, we will present what is known but also what remains overlooked, supporting the research insights with examples of our own lived experiences of CFS.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Understand why chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) needs to be examined as a distinct workplace condition, informed by both research evidence and lived experience.
2. Recognise the core psychological and organisational challenges faced by employees with CFS, drawing on insights from the literature and personal narrative.
3. Identify key implications for organisational practice, including supportive leadership, inclusive HR policies, and priorities for future research and action.
Joining live? Take the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the speakers during the Q&A.
Meet the Speaker
Ana Isabel Sanz Vergel is a Professor of Work Psychology at Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, UK. Her research focuses on employee wellbeing, with particular interest in topics such as recovery from stress and work–life balance. She is currently also interested in integrating her personal experience of living with chronic fatigue syndrome into her research agenda. She serves as associate editor in the journal “Applied Psychology: An International Review”. Her work has been published in highly regarded international journals, including Human Relations, Journal of Organizational Behaviour, and the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
Helen Fitzhugh is a Research Fellow at Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, UK. Her current research and knowledge exchange activities focus on workplace wellbeing. The golden thread running through all of her research to date is the exploration of why, how, and how successfully, different organisations work to create wellbeing and social change. She has published papers in Review of Public Personnel Administration, Critical Sociology, Social Science and Medicine and the British Journal of Management and has authored several UK Government commissioned reviews.
Branch Spotlight
This episode is proudly hosted by the BPS East of England Branch. The session offers an opportunity to connect with the Branch, learn more about its work in the East of England, and discover how you can engage with local activity and events.
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This episode has been organised by Member Networks Team. For any enquiries, please contact conferences@bps.org.uk