Health and Safety
HR Professional
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A first-of-its-kind online toolkit is now available to provide training and resources to companies and organizations that have employees with epilepsy.

Developed by Epilepsy Toronto, the epilepsy@work toolkit was recently launched with the Government of Ontario, Epilepsy Ontario and CIBC. To see the toolkit, please visit the epilepsy@work website.

 

"The goal of the toolkit is to help employers and HR professionals better understand, address and manage the needs of employees living with a seizure disorder," said Tim Nourse, an employment consultant with Epilepsy Toronto.

 

The toolkit features information around accommodating employees with a seizure and focuses on three primary areas: understanding epilepsy; seizure safety; and first aid, just-in-time resources for HR professionals, managers and occupational health and safety specialists.

 

Once on the website, co-workers, front-line supervisors and HR staff can take a 30-minute course to help them understand the condition and why having an employee with epilepsy is actually good for business.

"Generally, people living with epilepsy have a greater challenge retaining a job than finding employment. The information in epilepsy@work can be used to curb discrimination and guide employers to appropriate resources. People may choose not to disclose [that they have epilepsy], but when they have that first seizure at work, things get a little bit dicey," said Nourse. "For the person with epilepsy, they may not have a local [epilepsy support agency] that can help them, but they can steer their employer towards this website."

 

epilepsy@work is a resource that's long overdue, says Margaret Carter, an HRPA certification and continuing professional development specialist who lives with a seizure disorder. "I encourage employers to think about individuals with epilepsy in the same manner that they would any other employee - as an individual, not as a labeled group. I also encourage an employer to foster an atmosphere of openness, as it is often difficult for individuals living with epilepsy to tell their employers. Using this resource to train staff and managers will create openness."

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