Inside Watertight | Part 1: Toni’s Story:
Living and Working with Fibromyalgia: How Trust and Autonomy Changed Everything
A Guest Blog from Toni Clarke, Commercial Service Manager, Watertight International:
“Fibromyalgia is a condition that lives quietly in the background of my life - constant, unpredictable, and invisible to most people. It’s a chronic condition characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disruption and what many of us refer to as fibro fog: those moments where words slip away, concentration fades, and mental clarity feels just out of reach.
But fibromyalgia does not define who I am.
What defines me is how I manage it and, more importantly, the environment I’m trusted to manage it within.
When Support Looks Like Trust
For many people living with long-term conditions, work can feel like a constant balancing act: proving your value while quietly managing pain, fatigue, and bad days. Too often, “support” comes with scrutiny — fixed hours, rigid expectations, and the unspoken pressure to justify every adjustment.
That has not been my experience at Watertight International.
From day one, I have been trusted. Trusted to manage my workload. Trusted to manage my time. Trusted to know what I need on tough days — without being questioned, monitored, or made to feel like I need permission to look after my health.
There is no requirement for me to be in a certain place at a certain time just for the sake of visibility. If I need space, flexibility, or a quieter day to manage pain or fibro fog, I have it — without explanation and without judgement.
That level of trust is incredibly powerful.
“My condition does not define who I am. Being trusted to manage it, with the support of great people, is what allows me to thrive.”
A New Role — and a New Way of Working
Moving from a role in the public sector to the private sector was a huge shift for me. I was apprehensive. Change is hard enough without factoring in a chronic condition, and I worried about how my fibromyalgia would cope with new pressures, expectations, and increased travel.
What I found instead was a working culture that feels human.
Watertight’s relaxed atmosphere, combined with genuine trust and autonomy, has been one of the most liberating experiences of my working life. I’m left to get on with my role, supported by great people who value outcomes.
And the impact has been profound.
Better Mental Wellbeing, Fewer Flare-Ups
Since making the move, my fibromyalgia has been noticeably more manageable. Even with travel and a busy schedule, I’ve experienced fewer flare-ups, more consistent energy, and significantly improved mental wellbeing.
That’s not a coincidence.
Stress is one of the biggest aggravators of fibromyalgia. By removing unnecessary pressure, I feel calmer. Clearer. More in control. It genuinely feels like I’ve been given space to thrive rather than just cope.
Living with fibromyalgia still means there are tough days. Pain, fatigue and ‘fibro fog’ don’t disappear. But managing those days is far easier when you’re surrounded by people who trust you, respect your experience, and don’t make you feel like your condition is a problem to be solved.
At Watertight, my condition isn’t my defining feature. It’s simply one part of a much bigger picture — one that includes experience, capability, and contribution.
Support doesn’t always need to be loud or formal. Sometimes, the most meaningful support is quiet confidence in someone’s ability to manage themselves.
“The trust and flexibility at Watertight have been genuinely liberating — especially on the days when fibromyalgia makes things harder.”
Why This Matters
Fibromyalgia is an invisible condition, but the impact of inclusive, trusting workplaces is very visible. When people are given autonomy and respect, they don’t just stay, they grow.
Watertight International demonstrates that true diversity and inclusion isn’t about policies alone. It’s about creating a culture where people are trusted to be themselves, supported on difficult days, and valued for what they bring — not judged by what they’re managing.
For someone living with a chronic condition, that kind of environment isn’t just supportive, it’s life-changing.”
Thanks to Toni Clarke for sharing her personal experiences with us.
