How Epilepsy Impacts Employment
While having epilepsy can make the hunt for a job more difficult, it is not impossible, and many people with epilepsy can work and complete their job with no problems. In fact, some people with epilepsy do not even feel a need to disclose their medical condition to their employer because their medication has stopped all seizures.
Job Consideration for Those with Epilepsy
For those with epilepsy looking for a job, there are some things to consider before sending out resumes.
Driving Needs
Those with epilepsy whose seizure control is not quite at a level where they can obtain a driver’s license will want to avoid jobs where driving is a requirement or other occupations that place them in similarly hazardous situations.
Besides driving as a part of the occupation, if someone does not have a driver’s license due to current levels of seizure control, the means of transportation to and from work should also be a consideration when looking for a job. Factors such as carpooling or public transportation availability should be considered to determine the feasibility of getting to the office.
Remote Work
For those who do not have a way to get to work or would prefer to work in a familiar location, remote work is often favorable for those with epilepsy. Compared to a few years ago, remote work is much more common and accessible, a considerable benefit for those with epilepsy.
Your Rights
Unjustified prejudice against those with epilepsy may make someone cautious about sharing their epilepsy diagnosis with a prospective employer. Whether or not they choose to disclose this information, though, is entirely up to them.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers with more than 15 employees cannot ask any health-related questions until after the job has been offered. So, those with excellent seizure control may never feel a need to bring up their epilepsy, especially if no health-related questions are asked.
The biggest reason why someone may choose to disclose their epilepsy, especially after accepting a job, is to ensure that the workplace has reasonable accommodations, which they are required to make.
If someone chooses to discuss their epilepsy or is asked about any health conditions after being offered a job, the most important thing is to explain as much as they can about their condition to their employer. The more information casually provided to the employer, the more reassured they will feel.
Those with epilepsy will want to discuss information such as:
How long they have been diagnosed with epilepsy and their level of seizure control.
Whether or not they can drive.
If they have convulsive seizures.
How long they have been seizure-free?
How often do they have seizures?
How their epilepsy will, or will not, affect their ability to do the job.
It’s crucial for someone with epilepsy to remember that, while they are full of information about epilepsy, the general public likely knows very little. Because of this, they need to provide as much information as possible to improve epilepsy awareness and encourage their employer and peers to ask any questions they may have.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Effect on Employment
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an additional hurdle for those with epilepsy seeking employment. When companies made the massive shift to at-home work, they also let off many employees as they prepared for more minor needs for the company. This impacted all employees, those with epilepsy included.
Despite employers increasing employee numbers as we slowly rebuild from the pandemic, those with epilepsy are at a significant disadvantage because of how the mass layoffs impacted their health.
Many individuals with epilepsy use antiepileptics to control and limit their seizures, but the financial burden of employment may have made it difficult to get the necessary medicine. The increased seizures they experience may make it difficult for some individuals to consider working, creating a vicious cycle where they need to work to pay for their medicine but cannot work because their seizures are too frequent.
For those in this situation, scheduling an appointment with a doctor and receiving a recent EEG can help with regaining control over the seizures and making the return to work possible.
References
Employment Help - What You Need to Know. (2022). Retrieved 7 April 2022, from https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/independent-living/employment-help-what-you-need-know
Disclosing Epilepsy. (2022). Retrieved 7 April 2022, from https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/independent-living/employment/disclosing-epilepsy
Kuroda N. (2021). Epilepsy and COVID-19: Updated evidence and narrative review. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 116, 107785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.107785