'I was told I'd be fired because of migraines'

[Northerner]

Many employers do not understand the terrible effects of migraines and could do more to support staff with the condition, three UK charities say.

With one in seven people affected, their research suggests more help and awareness from bosses is needed.

Fiona McKenzie, 33, was told by one of her former employers she would be fired if her absences due to migraines didn't improve.

She says migraine pain is "like someone hitting my brain with an ice pick".

In a survey of more than 2,000 UK adults by the Migraine Trust, Migraine Action and the National Migraine Centre, 64% said they thought employers were not properly informed about the nature of migraines or how they affected employees.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41147026

 

[mikeyB]

One in seven? Don't believe it. But there is no doubt it should be recognised as a disability, and as such it would be against the law to sack someone who suffered from migraine. As long as it has been formally diagnosed, of course.

 

[Padscot]

One in seven? Don't believe it. But there is no doubt it should be recognised as a disability, and as such it would be against the law to sack someone who suffered from migraine. As long as it has been formally diagnosed, of course.

I agree I also think Diabetes should also be recognised.

 

[mikeyB]

Diabetes is recognised as a disability in employment law. That may just be Type 1, though. That’s how I managed to get ill health retirement - not because of the diabetes, but that protected me from getting the boot on inefficiency grounds.

 

[Sprogladite]

I have to agree, nothing more infuriating that being told a migraine is 'just a headache'. Only someone who has only had headaches would ever say such a thing! Thanks to a variety of things like cutting caffeine out entirely and taking amytritaline daily as a preventative, I don't get them nearly as often, but when I do, it's game over for at least 24 hours - sometimes as long as 6 days for me! Makes work a nightmare.