A new study from University College Cork (UCC) is investigating how employees living with chronic illnesses/long-term health conditions, such as epilepsy, decide to share their diagnosis in the workplace.
While we always encourage people with epilepsy to disclose their diagnosis, we know that there can still be reservations from many living with the condition in disclosing their epilepsy due to a fear of potential stigma and/or misunderstanding.
Our most recent public awareness survey of the Irish public found that over 80% of the public did not perceive epilepsy as a barrier to the workforce. However, while these are positive findings, our team is more than aware that issues around the understanding of epilepsy can still exist – which is why there can be a hesitation around disclosure in the workplace.
It is for these reasons that we believe this research may be of interest to many people living with epilepsy – and that people living with the condition may be able to present unique insights to the study team.
The research wants to understand how disclosing a diagnosis of a chronic illness like epilepsy reshapes the working relationship between employees and employers. Alongside this, the research is also interested in developing a framework to help explain disclosure as an important milestone in the development of a working relationship between colleagues; and to find out how sharing this information changes what the employer and employee expect from each other in terms of workload.
Participation is entirely voluntary and is open to anyone over 18 years of age. The study involves taking a short online survey which will take about 10-15 minutes. Respondents also have the option of expressing an interest in a follow up interview where they will have the opportunity to elaborate on their answers. Both the online survey and the interviews are scheduled to take place between now and August 2026.
If you are interested in sharing your experiences with the research team, you can do so via the button which will take you to the UCC website – where you can also find further information about the study and who to contact should you have any further questions.
Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences with this important study.
In the meantime, you can find further information on epilepsy and the workplace by visiting the ‘Employment’ section of our website; while further resources and support around disclosing epilepsy can be found by visiting the ‘How2Tell’ section of our website. Information for employers can also be found in the ‘For Employers’ section of our website.
As always, should you need any information or support on your or your loved one’s journey with epilepsy, please do not hesitate to contact your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the ‘Our Local Service’ page on our website.