| Right now ,in this very split second of time, there are | | | | very real condition. |
| millions of people suffering from migraine headaches all | | | | Some employers have even used the fact that some |
| over the world. It's a far more common problem than | | | | of their employees have migraines as an excuse to |
| most people think. The main problem with being a | | | | make staff redundant. They don't recognize the |
| migraine sufferer (or migraineur if you like) is that most | | | | condition so the employee is simply seen as taking too |
| people will dismiss that insanely painful migraine you | | | | many sick days. Companies are looking at how many |
| have as "..just a headache..". People tend to be very | | | | man hours they're losing each year to migraine |
| dismissive of migraines - unless they actually suffer | | | | headaches - some estimates put this at several billion |
| from them. | | | | dollars in lost time and revenue each year - on a global |
| One of the worst offenders when it comes to | | | | basis. Migraineurs are seen as "serial sickies" who |
| discriminating against people with migraines are | | | | constantly suffer from the Monday blues and when |
| employers. They'll more likely to see a migraine attack | | | | company doctors don't even recognize your condition |
| "as just a headache" than anyone else in your job. | | | | then it's hard to fight your own corner when facing |
| What's more shocking is that some company doctors | | | | being fired. |
| (especially in large companies or corporations) have | | | | This is leading more and more people to take action |
| only openly said they don't believe in migraine | | | | against former employers for unfair dismissal and |
| headaches! | | | | rightly so. The current economic climate means big |
| Companies are legally obliged (well in most countries) | | | | companies are looking for ever more devious ways to |
| to make "reason accommodation for people with | | | | shed employees and outsource the work elsewhere - |
| disabilities". Basically your employer is legally bound to | | | | the recession is being used as an excuse. |
| adapt the working environment to suit you as much as | | | | To help prevent this problem in the first place make |
| possible - as long as it doesn't wind up costing tens of | | | | sure that your co-workers know and understand that |
| thousands of dollars. Even if this process does cost | | | | you have migraines and just how serious a problem |
| thousands of dollars the company will get it back in tax | | | | this can be for you. Don't do it in a bleeding heart "pity |
| breaks as part of Government and State disability | | | | me" style but raising awareness of medical conditions |
| incentives. | | | | is important. It also means that people will understand |
| Does this mean that all migraineurs should now treat | | | | why you're out sick or why your performance may |
| themselves as being disabled? Of course not- that's | | | | suffer during a prolonged migraine attack. |
| really bad karma. A bad migraine can know the hell out | | | | Migraine headaches are real. Their effects are real. |
| of you but it does pass in the end. The purpose of | | | | Don't let your migraines be used as an excuse to treat |
| pointing out the disability aspect is that employers | | | | you badly in the workplace. |
| shouldn't just dismiss your migraines as if it wasn't a | | | | |