Survey Reveals Many People With Diabetes Face Prejudice In The Workplace

[DCUK NewsBot]

Employers are being urged to re-examine how they treat people with diabetes after a poll revealed that around one in five people with diabetes have faced disciplinary action as a result of taking time off for the condition. A survey of over 800 people with diabetes in the UK showed that 19 per cent had been disciplined at work for needing time off to manage the condition. A further 12 per cent had not been allowed time off because of their diabetes, while 25 per cent of the respondents said they had been questioned about time off work due to illness – even though employment regulations prohibit such discrimination. Fears that diabetes could impair their careers were felt by 30.8 per cent of the people who took part in the survey. 30 per cent stated they felt more ashamed about having time off for their diabetes than for a cold. Indeed, 16 per cent said they had a cold when calling in ill, rather than stating that the real reason was down to their diabetes. The Equality Act, in England, Scotland and Wales (Disability Discrimination Act for Northern Ireland), states that employers need to make 'reasonable adjustments' to prevent people with diabetes experiencing a disadvantage because of their condition and yet the survey indicates that many employers may not be following the guidance. Possible measures include adjusting hours of work, switching an employee's tasks or arranging for a more appropriate job. 51 per cent of the people questioned in the survey felt that reasonable adjustments were not being incorporated by their employers. The results of the survey showed that 24.9 per cent had taken at least three days off due to diabetes in the last 12 months and 60.7 per cent said appointments at hospitals resulted in them having to miss work. Further reasons for missing work included, exhaustion (47 per cent) and hypoglycemia (28 per cent). The poll also revealed that 49.5 per cent of respondents were fearful about having to have days off because of their condition. The poll was commissioned by Dexcom, which makes continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs). General Manager of Dexcom EMEA, John Lister, said: "Our research shows that people with diabetes still feel discriminated against in their place of work, to the point that they feel unable to miss work for fear of missing out on promotions or even losing their jobs. "Having to cope with the day to day struggle of diabetes is difficult enough, without the pressure that sufferers appear to be under as they try to continue to work and progress in their careers. "We hope this research will prompt colleagues and bosses to re-examine how they view and treat people in their team who they know are living with diabetes." JDRF's Head of External Affairs, Michael Connellan, commented on the findings, saying: "Life with diabetes presents its challenges. Worrying about your job shouldn't be one of them. We welcome all efforts to help employers develop greater understanding of long term conditions such as diabetes."

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[zand]

I wonder how this compares to the treatment of people with other conditions like epilepsy and asthma?

And do people take time off for colds nowadays then? It's sensible so as not to pass them on to the rest of the workforce but that was really frowned upon when I worked. I can't believe that is seen as more acceptable than taking time off for diabetes related things. You can work with a cold, even though it's not easy, but you can't work with a hypo or DKA!

Mad world.

 

[db89]

You can work with a cold, yes, but you risk p**ing off everyone else you then pass it on to for being the martyr that came in anyway. Work from home is a good option these days for many.

 

[zand]

You can work with a cold, yes, but you risk p**ing off everyone else you then pass it on to for being the martyr that came in anyway. Work from home is a good option these days for many.

So maybe people aren't sympathetic to diabetics when they have diabetes related problems because they can't catch diabetes from them? It just seems so wrong to have to lie to say you have a cold when in fact you have had a hypo ( which is more serious than a cold) and still aren't fully recovered.

 

[db89]

I'd imagine a lot stems from awareness. Generally everyone understands a cold but what does a severe hypo mean to a layperson who has no idea what diabetes involves? To clarify, my previous comment was directed at not wishing to contract colds from people who come in to work with them as someone with diabetes who doesn't wish to risk fighting off a cold and potentially managing higher blood sugars when it could easily be avoided by just not coming in for a day or two until it passes.

 

[zand]

I'd imagine a lot stems from awareness. Generally everyone understands a cold but what does a severe hypo mean to a layperson who has no idea what diabetes involves? To clarify, my previous comment was directed at not wishing to contract colds from people who come in to work with them as someone with diabetes who doesn't wish to risk fighting off a cold and potentially managing higher blood sugars when it could easily be avoided by just not coming in for a day or two until it passes.

Yes exactly! Colds are more of a problem to someone with diabetes and asthma too. Now, as an asthmatic people understand why colds are a problem to me, because they can hear me cough and wheeze (and think they too can catch the asthma lol) yet they don't understand how they are also a problem to me because I have diabetes too. They can't see or hear that, so they think it's not a problem even though I explain that I'm not feeling too good because my BGs are a little higher than usual. So again it's like they think I am lying and 'trying it on'