How to Tell your Boss you have Migraine

How to Tell your Boss you have a Migraine? Do you have coworkers and a boss who don’t understand Migraine? Are they judgmental about missed days? Do they know how to accommodate your needs, and do you know how to ask for them?

Missing Work due to Migraine

I once had a principal tell me, “he had a headache today too and was still at work,” when I crawled into school after throwing up 3 times on the side of a busy road in the rain. I explained my condition, and he answered with, “Oh, I thought it was something serious.” in a sarcastic tone as he rolled his eyes while reading his newspaper. It was a sickening moment, both physically and mentally. I used up all my sick days that year and had very little motivation to work for someone who not only took credit for my hard work while there but criticized me for a neurological disease that I lived with.

How to Tell your Boss you have a Migraine?

I now work part-time for a boss that understands that I live with Migraine. She knew my condition when she hired me, and the entire staff has helped with accommodations. They treat me as a person first and co-worker second, and that love motivates me. It gives me the power, to be honest, stresses less, and be more present because of the environment that we have created together. Job love is a real thing!!! I love the people I work with and for, and that understanding has allowed me to be a better employee and happier person.

We all need to work and make money while finding the right job and environment is difficult. Creating a better fit may be possible.

Last month, migraine partners officially launched the Migraine at Work campaign, a new Headache and Migraine Policy Forum project. CHAMP – Coalition For Headache And Migraine Patients, alongside Migraine Again, National Headache Foundation, American Migraine Foundation, and Association of Migraine Disorders. They are educating executives about how to tell your boss you have a migraine in the workplace. It discusses the needs of individuals living with migraine disease and gives employers and employees the tools they need to build healthier, happier, and more productive workplaces.

This group also worked on the Veterans’ Access to Migraine and Headache Disorders Treatment: A Policy Panel Discussion

MigraineAtWork.org