How does MS affect people?

MS is the most common disabling neurological condition affecting young adults and affects around 85,000 people in the UK. The majority of people with MS are of working age when they are diagnosed. Employment is therefore likely to be a major issue for many of them. MS is an unpredictable condition and its effects vary considerably between individuals. Symptoms can include difficulties such as numbness and altered sensations, impaired balance, undue fatigue (especially in hot weather) or poor co-ordination. A common feature for many people, however, is that it is a fluctuating condition and an individual may have significant periods when they are free from any disabling symptoms. 

How does MS affect the employee's ability to do the job?

As many symptoms of MS are invisible, such as fatigue and numbness, people with MS may be experiencing a range of symptoms in the workplace which are not obvious. People with MS, like those with other disabling conditions, aim to manage their symptoms in a way that minimises their impact at work. The assistance that they may need from the employer or their colleagues may be minimal.

Some employees may need to make changes in the way they work or in the type of work they do. Often, this does not happen until several years after diagnosis, so allowing time for both the employer and employee to plan for this possibility. 

Does the employee now represent a poor investment?

In most cases the answer to this question is a resounding 'no'. Being diagnosed with MS does not alter the person's knowledge or skills. The employer may well have invested considerable time and resources in developing the individual and it makes good business sense to continue reaping the benefits of that investment.

Recruitment is an expensive process. Employers clearly wish to appoint the best person for each post. If the person happens to have a disability, this need not stand in the way of good work performance.

Employees and customers usually respond well to the employment of a person with a medical condition or disability. Indeed, this may reflect in an increase in business, or a reduction in staff turnover. People managing a health condition are very often keen to show that this does not adversely affect their work performance. As a consequence, their attendance may, in fact, be better than that of many of their colleagues.