People with Diabetes in the South West Experience Workplace Discrimination

Treating people less favourably due to a disability is considered discrimination according to the Equality Act 2010. But according to charity Diabetes UK, that’s not stopping disability discrimination from occurring towards people with the condition.

“Discrimination and difficulties come about because employers lack knowledge about diabetes and do not understand its impact,” Helen Dickens, Assistant Director of Campaigns and Mobilisation at Diabetes UK, said.

“We need to talk more about the condition and the many ways it affects people’s lives in order to persuade workplaces to offer greater understanding and flexibility. Everyone deserves to work in an environment where they can ask for the support they need.”

Diabetes causes too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. It may lead to sight loss, kidney failure, stroke and limb amputation.

Whilst people with diabetes themselves may not consider themselves as having a disability, they will be covered by the Equality Act due to the long-term difficulties and complications it can cause.

According to Diabetes UK research, 15 per cent of working people in the West Country feel their employer does discriminate against them.

Managing diabetes means that employees will need to attend related appointments and require flexibility to take regular breaks for testing blood sugar or to take medication.

Because of the negative aspects of managing the condition, 9 per cent did not even tell their employer they had the condition.

“Thousands of people across the UK have spoken out about how a lack of understanding from their employers can make working with diabetes not just exhausting and stressful, but also potentially life-threatening. We heard from people who had to give up their jobs in order to manage their condition safely,” Helen Dickens continued.

“Diabetes is one of the largest health crises of our time affecting more than 2.2 million people of working age in the UK. Missing essential health checks or not taking medication on time can lead to devastating complications, such as amputations, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and even early death.”

For more information about your rights at work, visit: www.diabetes.org.uk/work

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