During Migraine Awareness Month, Canadian organizations, employers, and employees are encouraged to use their Out of Office (OOO) Alert for four hours – the minimum duration of an average migraine – to show solidarity with colleagues living with migraine (example below).^[iv],[v]

 

“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. “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.”Migraine prevalence peaks during prime working years, and statistics suggest that a substantial portion of the workforce is affected by it.[i] Migraine management resources equip organizations to help their employees better understand absenteeism and presenteeism (i.e. when employees are not fully functioning in the workplace because of an illness).^[i]

“Migraine can be physically and mentally debilitating for millions of Canadians, often going unnoticed by peers,” says Wendy Gerhart, Executive Director, Migraine Canada. “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.”

About Migraine in the Workplace
More than five million Canadians live with migraine.^[ii] While migraine affects all demographics, its prevalence peaks for people in their 30s and 40s, when most individuals are likely employed.^[vi] Despite this, migraine remains highly misunderstood and stigmatized in the workplace as being directly related to one’s ability to work. ^[vii]

“The implication of migraine costs the Canadian economy many billions of dollars each year^[ii] with costs related to missed workdays alone being at 980 million dollars per year,”^[ii],[viii] says Dr. Will Kingston, Neurologist, Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto. “Despite this, migraine remains underdiagnosed due to a lack of education and training on where to access resources for support, leading to profound impact on work performance and wellbeing.”^[ii]

“At Pfizer Canada we’re committed to supporting migraine patients as well as educating our communities,” said Ranjita Banerjee, Primary Care Portfolio Lead, Pfizer Canada. “Leveraging an OOO Alert is the perfect conversation starter, at the office or virtually, to help colleagues better support one another. We’re excited to see how this campaign evolves in its second year to spread the word about migraine.”

As pictured below, the OOO Alert message can provide key migraine information, statistics, and resources to show allyship for colleagues impacted by migraine while encouraging their professional network to learn more.

Additional Quotes
“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. “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.”

“Migraine is a chronic disease^[ix] without a definitive cure, yet with proper management especially in the workplace, the impact can be significantly reduced,” said Dr. Heather Pim, associate clinical professor of neurology, University of Montreal, director of the Headache Clinic at the University of Montreal Hospital Centre, and president of Migraine Québec. “I’m proud to be a part of this campaign as it promotes a healthier and more inclusive workplace practice in service to the overall health of patients.