I can’t get a job because I can work only from home. What can I do?

September 4, 2026 — 5:00am

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I was made redundant from my most recent job earlier this year due to funding issues. I’ve been applying for jobs full time since then.

I don’t lack experience, skills, degrees, references or anything else. Without going into detail, I’m pretty sure I’m taking every humanly possible action. However, I have multiple disabling health conditions and can only work entirely remotely. This should be fine, on paper. I do desk job work. I just need to do it at my desk instead of someone else’s desk. It costs nothing to accommodate me.

But it appears my needs are unacceptable, and I am facing a lot of discrimination when applying for jobs. I can’t change that I am housebound. I don’t get any form of disability supports, financial or otherwise. I don’t have family; I must work, otherwise I will end up homeless.

Any advice you have for facing discrimination in employment is welcome.

I asked Dr Hongbo Guo, a lecturer and assistant professor in management at the University of Canberra, for his thoughts on your question. His first question mirrored my own thoughts: “How much more ‘employable’ can we reasonably ask someone to become?”

I know from our correspondence that........

© The Sydney Morning Herald