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out of office for migraine awareness: second annual campaign encourages empathy in the workplace
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people with migraine also have to deal with misunderstanding and stigma in the workplace for needing time off, or having their productivity go down if they choose to try to work through it instead of taking the time they need to recover.
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roughly five million canadians live with migraine, a complex neurological disorder that causes moderate to severe headaches that can be debilitating for the people who experience them. along with pain, migraine can also drive sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, cognitive dysfunction, and dizziness.
even though many people have experienced a migraine themselves or know someone who has, the general understanding of the condition is lacking in canada. in many ways, people still perceive migraine as nothing more than a bad headache.
the relatively new campaign, led by pfizer canada in collaboration with migraine canada and migraine quebec, aims to change the way people perceive migraine. in its second year, the campaign, dubbed out of office for migraine awareness, calls on employees to set an out-of-office message for four hours throughout the month of june. its primary goal is to demonstrate to employers and employees the detrimental impact of migraine on individuals in the workplace.
“migraine can be trivialized both in professional environments and in day-to-day life. we work hard to provide resources to those who experience it, as well as those in their personal and professional circles, so they can gain a deeper knowledge of the condition, its possible treatments, and the potential accommodations that can help sustain employment amidst the challenges,” says véronique clément, executive director, migraine québec, in a press release.
“this campaign, and the small step of turning on an ooo alert, is a great opportunity for employers in particular to support their colleagues who may feel limited and isolated in the workplace.”
the effects of migraine on employees
migraine can affect people of all ages, but they are typically most active during a person’s prime career years between the ages of 30 and 49. a lot of people who suffer from migraine are also undiagnosed because they are either told it’s not that big of a deal or they don’t know where to turn to for help.
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that means that they not only have to contend with the pressures of their job and home life, but also have to cater to debilitating pain and other symptoms while trying to maintain the balance between both.
people with migraine also have to deal with misunderstanding and stigma in the workplace for needing time off, or having their productivity go down if they choose to try to work through it instead of taking the time they need to recover. as a result, migraine cost the canadian economy upwards of $980 million annually.
“migraine is widely misunderstood in the workplace and ultimately leads employees to ‘push through,’ despite it reducing productivity and potentially leading to burnout,” says debby carreau, ceo and founder, inspiredhr, a hr consultancy firm, in a press release.
that said, more awareness, understanding, and support can go a long way in helping those with migraine seek and find better management to control their migraine in a more viable way that allows them to not only improve their ability to work but also their overall quality of life.
“by understanding what migraine is, colleagues can support those living with the condition by reducing the stigma associated with taking time off work due to migraine attacks,” said carreau in a press release.
growing a campaign from the ground up
migraine canada, migraine quebec, and pfizer canada hope that more people will continue to set their out-of-office (ooo) alerts to support those with migraine, in the hopes of fostering a more inclusive environment.
“at pfizer canada, we’re proud to support the out of office for migraine awareness campaign because it raises awareness on a condition that affects millions of canadians yet remains widely misunderstood. by encouraging people to activate their ooo alerts for four hours—the average length of a migraine attack—we’re helping to normalize the experience and foster more compassionate workplaces,” said lisa del signore, people experience lead at pfizer canada, in a statement to healthing.
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“it’s about empathy, education, and action. that’s why we’re committed to raising awareness and supporting those living with migraine.”
“migraine can be physically and mentally debilitating for millions of canadians, often going unnoticed by peers,” says wendy gerhart, executive director, migraine canada, in a press release. “the ooo alert is a simple step that colleagues can share to show compassion and ignite more meaningful dialogue around migraine in the workplace. we encourage canadians to tap into available resources, replacing stigma and skepticism with support.”
to support the ooo alert or to access more information about migraine or the campaign, visit migrainecanada.org or migrainequebec.org.
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