Getting a job
Most jobs are open to people with epilepsy, but there are a few jobs that aren’t suitable for someone with uncontrolled epilepsy. These are jobs that may put you or other people at risk if you have a seizure during working hours. For example, a job involving working near open water or at great heights isn’t a sensible choice.
Apart from the armed forces, all employers have to comply with the Equality Act and Disability Discrimination Act. This means employers must not treat you unfairly. Having epilepsy should not be a reason why you are not offered a job.
Employers can’t refuse to employ you just because you have epilepsy. If you apply for a job, the employer has to look at your application on an individual basis. They must consider your skills and qualifications. This is the same as for someone without epilepsy. They may, however, need to know about your seizures and if the seizures could affect you while you’re working. For example, you may need to have been seizure-free for a set period of time before applying for a post as a nurse or teacher. The reason for this is that employers must consider the safety of people in your care during a typical working day.
For more information about careers and job hunting for people with epilepsy, contact your Disability Employment Advisor at your local Jobcentre Plus or visit Connexions. Connexions advisers can also give career help and advice.
Help in the work place
Employers have to look at making changes to help you overcome any problems that your epilepsy might cause you in the workplace. The changes must be reasonable for both you and the employer. Here are some examples.
- If you usually have seizures first thing in the morning, your employer might let you to start (and finish) work later than other employees. This would be as long as the workplace was open during those hours.
- If your seizures aren’t controlled, your employer could try to make sure you don’t work alone. This would mean that a colleague would always be there to help, if you needed it.
Telling employers about your epilepsy
You don’t have to tell an employer about your epilepsy if you don’t feel it’s relevant to the job. So, if your epilepsy is well controlled, and won’t affect your ability to do your job safely and effectively, you may choose not to tell them. If your epilepsy could affect your ability to do the job safely, you do have to tell an employer about it.
If you don’t tell an employer about your epilepsy when you start a job, you can change your mind and tell them at any time in the future.
Be sensible about sharing information – if your epilepsy could affect your ability to do a job safely, you have a legal duty to tell your employer about it