News Employee Wellness
National campaign highlights the impact of migraine in the workplace

To mark Migraine Awareness Month in June, Pfizer Canada, Migraine Canada, and Migraine Quebec have partnered to launch Out of Office for Migraine Awareness, a national campaign to foster more supportive work environments for Canadians living with migraine – a debilitating neurological disease that can significantly impact multiple aspects of an individual’s life, including their career.

During the first work week of Migraine Awareness Month, June 3 to 7, Canadians are encouraged to turn on their Out of Office (OOO) alert for four hours – the minimum duration of an average migraine headache – to show solidarity with the migraine community and educate and inform the workplace community about migraine.

“I witness firsthand the profound challenges that patients face when managing this complex disease in the workplace, from presenteeism to long-term disability,” said Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, neurologist and founder of Migraine Canada. “People with migraine often work through their debilitating episodes. Raising awareness among employers and HR departments could lead to a cultural and structural change in Canadian workplaces. Stigma and skepticism should be replaced by support, adapted environments, and access to medical care. This campaign marks a significant step forward in addressing an area of high unmet need.”

“Migraine is an under-diagnosed disorder and as a result is often stigmatized in the workplace, leading to patients working while dealing with severe symptoms,” 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 Quebec. “While there is no cure for migraine, it can be effectively managed. By raising much-needed awareness and education, I believe this campaign can help make an impact toward healthy work environments and in turn, healthy patients.”

About migraine in the workplace

More than five million Canadians live with migraine. While migraine affects all demographics, its prevalence peaks between the ages of 30-40, when most individuals are likely employed. Despite this, migraine remains highly misunderstood and stigmatized in the workplace as being directly related to one’s ability to work.

“Migraine can be physically and mentally debilitating, often going unnoticed by peers for over five million Canadians,” said Wendy Gerhart, executive director, Migraine Canada. “Repurposing an OOO alert message is a simple step that, when shared together, can ignite more meaningful dialogue around migraine in the workplace during Migraine Awareness Month and beyond.”

Canadians are encouraged to use the OOO alert message to provide key migraine information, statistics, and resources to show solidarity for colleagues impacted by migraine while encouraging their professional network to do the same.

For more information on migraine, visit migrainecanada.org or migrainequebec.org.