Illustration: David Parkins

The problem

Dear Nature ,

A few months ago, I started a PhD at a university in North America. I have a disability that affects both my physical and my mental capacity, and its impact on me fluctuates. The more I can rest, the fewer symptom flare-ups I experience.

Unfortunately, my laboratory has a severe problem with overwork. Most students work 50–60 hours a week and sometimes more. We’re constantly asked to take on new tasks for the projects of our principal investigator (PI), often with tight deadlines. I’ll go into the lab intending to work on my experiments and end up spending all day on my PI’s tasks.

My PI, to whom I have not disclosed my health status, has repeatedly expressed disappointment in my work ethic.…