Own your career

Depending on your type of work, you may be able to make reasonable adjustments to your role so you can continue to work despite your MS.

Telling your employer

In general, there is no legal obligation to tell your work about your condition, unless your symptoms are potentially an occupational health and safety risk to others.

Pros and cons of telling your employer

Pros:

You can ask for adjustments to the workplace that can maintain or even improve our productivity
You can ease your employer’s concerns or misconceptions and receive additional emotional support once they have a better understanding of what you are experiencing
It can reduce the strain of ‘covering up’, such as explaining absences from work or hiding symptoms of MS

Cons:

Employers and colleagues may have negative views or inaccurate stereotypes about MS and may assume that you will be unable to do your job, become unreliable or frequently need to take time off
Your employer may assume that you will not want or be eligible for further training or promotions
Colleagues may treat you differently, focusing on your health status rather your work talents and abilities

Whatever you decide, you have the same rights and responsibilities as any person who gets sick at work, including the right to not be discriminated against or dismissed just because you have MS. If you are uncertain about whether to disclose your MS to your employer or colleagues, get professional advice or consult your union if you are a member of one.

Getting support in the workplace

Support that can help you do your job is available if you tell your employer about your MS.

If you do tell your employer, you can ask them about making changes to work practices, procedures or your environment so you can minimise the impact of your MS and still do your job effectively.

If you do decide to tell your employer about your MS, some changes you could make include: