these contrasting findings should be viewed carefully in the light of the national context but they may also be due to some other explanations as suggested below first of all it is important to read these findings within the national context in particular to understand the mechanism in place either at the workplace or at the national level to help chronically ill people to cope with diseases once diagnosed such as the social security system and other policies for instance in the united states health insurance is largely secured through the employment contract so people with chronic conditions have strong incentives to remain in employment which may contribute to explain some positive outcomes of chronic diseases on employment