Letter template for employers / HR departments

Your name & address

Date

Dear [employers name / HR representatives name],

I am writing regarding my migraines and to outline how my condition affects me both personally and potentially at work.

As a committed colleague in my position as [xxxxx] I am keen to work with [employer]to look at the ways in which we may be able to work together tohelp reduce my chances of having a migraine attack at work or my condition impacting on my professional life, and reduce the possible impact that my working environment may have on my condition in general.

[Give further information on your reason for writing:have you experienced issues with other colleagues not understanding the condition? Have you been disciplined or are worried that you may face disciplinary action due to issues at work / absenteeism? Is your work environment triggering a lot of attacks, either whilst you are at work or when you get home?].

Migraine is very individual and the frequency, severity, symptoms and triggers differ from person to person. My main symptoms are [xxx]. I have attacks [information on the approximate number of attacks you experience]. Attacks usually take place [is there a particular time of day / week / month when attacks are more common?].My main migraine triggers include [xxxx].

I am taking steps to manage and minimise the impact of my condition by [lifestyle factors, getting fresh air during your lunch hour etc, medication, taking steps to avoid triggers, professional healthcare advice…]However, as there is no cure for migraine, I do continue to experience [some] attacks.

Give further information about how migraine has affected you in the workplace to date if you wish.

I believe that [employer] can assist me in managing my migraine at work by [giving reasons why these factors might make difference / the issues they are causing for your and the implications to your migraine]

  • Xxx
  • Xxxxx
  • [for example, addressing lighting issues, asking colleagues to avoid wearing strong perfume in the office, allowing you to drink water at your desk]

Some general facts about migraine can be found overleaf / areattached. Further information on migraine and potential issues for migraineurs in the workplace can obtained from Migraine Action. The charity has a ‘Migraine in the Workplace’ booklet which is available from which gives advice to both employers and employees [or you may wish to obtain a copy yourself and enclose this with the letter]. Migraine Action also runs ‘workplace assessments’ which helps colleagues with migraine and their employers to assess and address any issues at work, with the aim of ensuring both parties get the most out of the professional partnership.

I look forward to working with [employer]to help ensure that I am able to continue to be a valued colleague and asset the company / organisation.

Yours sincerely,

Some general facts about migraine

  • An estimated 1 in 7 people in the UK suffer from migraine, making it more prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy and asthma combined
  • It affects people of all ages (even young children), of all social classes, and over twice as many women as men
  • The World Health Organisation has classified migraine amongst the top 20 most disabling lifetime conditions
  • Attacks can last for between 4 and 72 hours with sufferers experiencing an average of 13 attacks each year
  • Migraine is more than just a headache; the condition affects the whole body. Other symptoms can include: visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound and smell, confusion, speech difficulties and numbness of the limbs
  • Migraine is a very individual condition which affects everyone differently, including their symptoms, frequency and severity of attacks, triggers and responses to treatments
  • Migraine is triggered by a huge variety of factors (not just cheese, chocolate or red wine) and is very individual. For most people there is not just one trigger but a combination of factors which individually can be tolerated, but when they occur together a threshold is passed and a migraine is triggered. Stress, irregular eating and sleeping patterns and dehydration are common triggers
  • There is currently no cure for migraine, however, lifestyle factors, such as healthy eating and regular sleeping patterns, can make a big difference to migraine management and there are preventative and acute treatment options available

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 superseded The Disability Discrimination Act 2055 (DDA). The Equality Act 2010 defines a person as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Some people don’t realise that impairments, such as migraines, dyslexia, asthma and back pain can count as a disability if the adverse effect on the individual is substantial and long-term. Employers are required to make ‘reasonable adjustments to jobs and workplaces for disabled workers’. For further information about The Equalities Act 2010, visit