Patients Epilepsy
5 workplace tips for people with epilepsy
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Margarita_k
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Margarita_k
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Last activity on 07/10/2020 at 11:39
Joined in 2016
1,195 comments posted | 30 in the Epilepsy Forum
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1. Make changes to your working pattern and duties
Its is better to have a clear schedule, working fixed hours instead of different shifts. Change work location if needed to be closer to home or to care facilities. Take extra breaks to avoid being overtired.
2. Make changes to your workplace
Your workplace should be as comfortable as possible, and free from any triggers that can cause seizures, like flickering lights, flashing lamps, etc. If you have a quiet room in your office, you can benefit from it to take short pauses, rests, to recover after a seizure or just to get away from work stress for 10 minutes.
3. Tell your employer you have epilepsy
You should be allowed paid time off for medical appointments, exams, sickness absences and treatments and there should be no disciplinary consequences for frequent absences due to epilepsy. Adjusting the way assessments are carried out, allowing extra time and adjusting bonus targets is also possible.
4. Rest properly
Fatigue can trigger seizures for some people, but even if it doesn't, it should be avoided. Having a regular sleep pattern is essential for people with epilepsy: going to bed and waking up at the same time, having 7-8hours of sleep daily helps feel less tired. It is thus important to have regular working hours, and to take breaks during the day, to rest the eyes, to think about something else and avoid stress.
5. Tell a colleague you have epilepsy.
Apart from your employer, there should be someone who knows you and is constantly near you (an assistant, a co-worker) and who can provide you with necessary assistence in case of a seizure. Find a person (or two) you trust, and tell them about your condition, giving them special literature or showing them a website where they can find support information about epilepsy. This way you can be sure you will not be left alone and helpless in case you have a seizure.