Migraines and work

[mcfadge]

[Rubyroo]

I have never known a company to be sympathetic to people who suffer with migraines. According to companies, it's just a "headache" unless people suffer with them they don't understand how painful they can be

[Tru50]

I must be lucky my company are very sympathetic - though we are only allowed 10 sick days per year! But they are pretty flexible I can make up the hours I've lost due to my migraines.

Ask them if you can work flexitime

Good luck

[daisyrose]

For some reason I can't see the details of the question on this page......however, my employer has been quite understanding of my migraines over the last 6 years of working there. I usually have one or two days off sick every couple of months when I get a really bad migraine, but more often I try to keep going to work, although I need to work shorter days, and frequently can't concentrate very well. I was allowed two weeks sick leave when I had to reduced my medication following a consultation at the City of London Migrain Clinic. This week, they turned off the fluorescent lights for my benefit and gave people desk lamps instead, and that was really helpful.

I understand that long term migraines count as a disability, and are therefore covered by Disability Discrimination rules, so any sick time you take due to a migraine shouldn't be counted against you (don't quote me on this! Can anyone clarify the rules?).

I recently wanted to apply for a new job, but decided in the end that I'm probably better off staying where I am, as I don't know if a new employer would be so supportie.

[Charlotte_NMC Partner National Migraine Centre]

Migraine Trust have produced a really useful guide for staff and employers - see it here: migrainetrust.org/employmen...

[heyjude77]

I work for a charity that supports people with a long-term health condition (MS) so, by definition, they kind of have to be supportive of my migraines! Experience has shown me that they get better quicker when I go home and rest, rather than try to work through them. So it's in the charity's interest that I take the day off sick, because then I'm back to full capacity quicker.

The Equality act defines disability as 'a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal

day-to-day activities'. Whether migraines are covered seems to be judged judged on a case by case basis, depending on the severity and frequency of the migraines. There's an article on the Migraine Trust website which has more info: migrainetrust.org/research-...

If your employer is unsupportive of your migraines, you could try educating them that they're not just a headache. There are factsheets available from the Migraine Trust which you could print off and give to you manager, or you could signpost them to the Migraine Trust or Migraine Action's website. If your manager isn't interested, you could try your HR team (if your company has one). Migraine Action produce a booklet specifically on migraine in the workplace, which may have further tips. They charge £3.50 for a copy; I was sure there was a free download I read somewhere about migraines and work but I can't find it! Anyway, here's the link: migraine.org.uk/online-shop...

I hope this helps you.

[Sybille]

Hi. My employer is very sympathetic as well. If I am off for just a day because of a migraine I get paid anyway. They always insist I go home if I'm not well. If I need to be off for several weeks in a row I am entitled to 26 weeks fulll pay + 26 weeks half pay. I have another job and a few weeks after I started I had to be off sick for a while becasue of the migraines and even though I was still on a trial period then they took me back when I was ready. Actually I work for them as self employed so they really didn't have to do that especially as thye had found a very good supply teacher. Then of course just like in personal life you will always have colleagues at work who make stupid comments..... I have a third job but I'm self employed at home so that's a lot easier to deal with!

[teadrinker]

Our sickness rules have just changed - you are now only allowed a certain number of sickness episodes per 12 month period, and get points for each episode. Points don't make prizes in this situation as a specific number of points now leads to a formal warning. Two formal warnings for sickness leads to dismissal. Luckily I am rarely off sick, though have spent many occasions muddling along at work because I'm either woolly headed and dizzy from a migraine without a headache, or stuck at work with the headache type and not fit to drive home. Oh well, would rather that than no job.

I can see why draconian measures like this are put in place when some people seem to be off work having so-called "duvet days", but it's unfair to penalise the rest of us who are genuinely ill sometimes. Don't know about the rest of you but I find myself working extra hard to make up for the times when I feel less productive.