APPG for MS meets to discuss MS and employment
On Tuesday 1 July, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for MS held a meeting. They met to discuss the experiences of people living with MS in and out of work.
What is the APPG?
The APPG for MS is a cross-party group of parliamentarians committed to tackling issues that affect people living with MS. The group is made up of MPs and peers from many different parties. They advocate to get MS issues high on the government’s agenda.
We support the APPG as the group’s secretariat.
What did the group discuss?
We talked about the experiences of people with MS in accessing good-quality employment.
Our Policy Manager Ross Barrett presented findings from a new joint report with the Work Foundation. The report discusses how to support people with MS to thrive in and out of work.
We were also joined by members of the MS community who kindly shared their experiences of work with the group.
What does the report say?
Our new report with the Work Foundation is a study to improve the understanding of the employment experiences of people with MS.
From a survey of people with MS in the UK, we found that people with MS can face significant challenges at work. And that many people with MS feel forced to leave work before they want or need to. Or feel they must compromise their health to stay in employment.
The report recommends making adjustments to work environments. And that providing support for employers is crucial.
Flexibility is the most important form of workplace support for people with MS. We need to see better understanding of MS among employers. This can help ensure people with MS stay in work as long as they want to.
Who spoke at the event?
Our volunteer Sarah joined us to speak to the APPG about her experiences at work after her MS diagnosis.
"My employer allows me to increase the number of days I work from home if I am physically struggling with my MS, and I am unable to attend the office.
They are also understanding if my MS symptoms mean that I am unable to work at all and must take time off sick.”
Sarah also called for the government to ensure that everyone with MS is supported by their employers:
“I believe my employer is a very good example of how MS should be supported in the workplace.”
What’s next for the APPG?
We’re supporting the Chair of the APPG to ensure this important new report reaches the Minister for Disability and his colleagues. And the APPG will continue to raise the profile of how people with MS can and should be supported. So they can thrive in and out of work.
The APPG will meet again after the summer to discuss the experiences of people with MS in accessing hospital care and treatment. And how we can improve them.
How to get involved
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