The Migraine Trust welcomes today’s publication of the Keep Britain Working: Final report and the Government’s focus on health, work and inclusion. 

We believe this presents a major opportunity to improve the working lives of the one in seven people in the UK who live with migraine – a condition that is often invisible, highly disabling and too frequently misunderstood. 

The report identifies three persistent problems in workplace health and disability: 

• A culture of fear around disclosure and conversation 

• A lack of effective, consistent support for employers and employees 

• Structural barriers to staying in or returning to work for people with health conditions or disabilities 

Our research at The Migraine Trust shows that these problems resonate deeply with people living with migraine: 

• 34 % of people living with migraine say they have felt discriminated against at work because of their condition 

• 56 % say their workplace has not made reasonable adjustments to help them manage migraine attacks at work and just 2% said they agreed employers offered migraine friendly policies 

• 58 % have avoided telling their employer about their migraine due to concerns about not being taken seriously or being penalised 

Keeping people with migraine in work can be good for individuals (in terms of income, health and identity), for employers (through retention and productivity) and for the nation (by reducing economic inactivity and welfare costs). The case is clear. 

However, unless migraine is factored into policy, employer guidance and workplace practices, the millions of working-age adults living with migraine will continue to fall through the gaps. 

We must also not lose sight of those with migraine who are unable to work and ensure they have the support, understanding and assistance they need to live as well as possible. 

The Migraine Trust is ready to contribute – through research, guidance, training and support. Together we can build workplaces where people with migraine can thrive, not just survive.