Dear Management-Issues...
I have lived with migraine since I was in my teens. For the most part, I am able to manage well with the condition, and I have found a medication that I take when a migraine attack starts that seems to work quite well (most of the time!).
A few months ago, I started a new job and although my colleagues and line manager seem to be great at what they do, one thing I've noticed is that they don't seem to really understand what migraine is, or how it can affect me. There have been a couple of times I've had to log off to deal with migraine symptoms, and my manager made a few dismissive remarks about my 'headaches'. Then, a few weeks ago, I was talking to colleagues about a stressful situation at work, when one joked "careful Laura, you'll give yourself one of your migraines". It made me feel like they were belittling me, and that they see me as overexaggerating my condition.
In reality, when a migraine attack sets in, I often struggle to see clearly. My head throbs with pain and I often vomit, feeling weak and fatigued for days after. How can I get my colleagues and manager to realise this is not 'just a headache'?
- Laura, Manchester
Debbie Shipley's Answer:
Having your health condition downplayed in the workplace is a horrible experience and I'm sorry that you've had to deal with this on top of getting to grips with a new job role.
Unfortunately, you are not alone in this experience: migraine is poorly understood by the general public and this lack of understanding often extends to workplaces. Our recent research showed that a concerning 60% of people without migraine thought it was just 'a bad headache' and agreed migraine is often used as a joke, while 77% of those who live with migraine said they felt people don't take migraine seriously or joke about the condition.
The attitude of your colleagues and manager toward migraine, referring to attacks as 'headaches' and being dismissive suggest they may simply not understand what migraine really means, or the impact it can have. It's worth considering setting aside some time to discuss what migraine means to you with either your manager or HR department. This can feel daunting (just 19% of people with migraine said they would be comfortable talking to their organisation's HR about their migraine), but The Migraine Trust have lots of tools to help you have the conversation about what you need, including our Workplace Toolkit. We even have a toolkit for employers, that talks them through everything they need to know about migraine, and has lots of tips for supporting staff with migraine to thrive in work.
When it comes to other colleagues, it could be helpful to let them know that migraine is actually a complex, long-term health condition. Sharing how migraine affects you personally might open their eyes to it being much more than 'just a headache' and may mean they are better able to support you. Of course, it is up to you how much you share of your own experience, but personal stories can really get across the impact of the condition in a way that's more difficult to see with statistics. You can also be firm in your boundaries regarding comments from colleagues, letting them know that joking about your condition is actually quite hurtful. Again, you could refer them to information and resources from The Migraine Trust that highlight the symptoms and impact of migraine to aid you in that discussion.
A migraine awareness training session for your workplace might also be useful to help improve awareness and understanding of the condition among colleagues. When it comes to migraine in the workplace, small changes can often make a big difference!
It's really positive that you feel you are managing well with migraine but it's important that those you work with take it seriously too, and support you when you need it. As well as providing information and resources for employers and colleagues, The Migraine Trust also offer support for anyone with migraine through our helpline service, so don't hesitate to get in touch!
