Migraines

What are they?

Migraines are common, affecting about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 12 men in the UK.

Migraines are a intense pain usually at the front or side of the head.

Common Migraines – include symptoms of nausea and increased sensitivity to light and also noise and smells

Classic Migraines – have other symptoms including visual disturbances, stiffness or tingling in the neck, and can include problems with co-ordination, difficulty speaking and rarely loss of consciousness

How do they affect people?

Many factors have been identified as triggering the onset of a migraine, including emotional triggers, such as stress and anxiety; physical triggers such as poor sleep or poor posture; dietary triggers such as irregular meals, food additives or alcohol; environmental triggers such as bright lights, strong smells or loud noises and they can also be brought on by certain medicines such as Hormone Replacement Therapy.

One of the best methods of preventing migraines is recognising the signs and the triggers of an attack. There is no pattern to the onset of migraines. They can occur at any age. Some people may only ever have one or two attacks whilst others may have attacks throughout their lives.

How are they treated?

Migraines are usually best treated with over-the-counter painkillers such as Paracetamol. Migraine sufferers may need stronger painkillers or medicines from their Pharmacist or GP to treat symptoms such as nausea.

There is no cure for migraines, but there are a number of medicines available that can help to reduce the frequency and severity of the attacks. There are specialist clinics which individuals can be referred to if they are not responding well to treatment.

How might they affect work?

Migraines can be debilitating and the employee with a migraine may need to take time off work. In most cases a migraine should last no more than 24 hours and the employee should be able to return to work the next day. In the majority of cases there are no adjustments or modification required in the workplace.

What do I need to do as the Manager?

If an employee has recurrent episodes of absence with migraines then you should discuss this with them:

Identify if there are any factors at work that could be triggering their migraines

In most cases it is unlikely that there will be any adjustments that you can make in the workplace that will reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

Points to remember

Fit notes

If an employee produces a fit note indicating that they require modified duties, discuss this with them and consider if the modification recommended can be reasonably accommodated.

Job tasks and risk assessments

Review the risk assessment for the employee’s job role and work tasks including the ability to drive safely where required. Take into consideration any temporary modification that may be required to accommodate their reduced ability to undertake certain tasks.

General guidance

If you require further information, refer to the general advice on managing attendance.