About Addison's Disease Information for employers Information for employers Our charity, with the support and guidance of its Clinical Advisory Panel, publishes a range of materials for employers and colleagues to help them better support people affected by Addison's disease or adrenal insufficiency. If a person has Addison's or adrenal insufficiency, it’s up to them if they want to tell their colleagues and manager about their condition. But being open can help you give them any support they might need. These resources complement the charity's extensive range of information for patients & publications for healthcare professionals. Is Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency a disability? Whilst everyone might not identify as having a disability, people with Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency are covered by the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010, or if you live in Northern Ireland — the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This is because Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency is a life-long condition, it can seriously affect a person’s ability to do normal day-to-day activities and is fatal if left untreated. We can't say that Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency is always seen as a disability because the Equality Act treats each person as an individual. And ultimately only a court or tribunal could decide. But the key thing is that Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency is a long-term condition that can seriously affect your ability to do normal day-to-day things if you aren’t able to have your medication or treatment. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has guidance for employers on the Equality Act 2010. When An Employee Has Addison's: Information for Employers As an employer, the best way to get informed about Addison's or adrenal insufficiency and how it affects someone is to ask them. They live with the condition every day and will be able to let you know how you can best help them. To support these discussions have a look at our 'When an employee has Addison's' leaflet. This was written to help people with Addison's who are newly diagnosed – or changing jobs – to explain their condition to an employer. Read more in our 'When an employee has Addison's' leaflet If you are unable to work due to your health and require specialist advice, please visit the links below to make sure you get the most appropriate support for you. Citizens Advice: check what benefits to claim if you’re sick or disabled Scope - Equality for Disabled People: online advice and helpline available Turn2Us: benefits calculator to find out what benefits you can claim Social Security Scotland: Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment Time off work for illness and check-ups An employee with Addison’s or adrenal insufficiency is more likely to require time off work when they are first diagnosed, before their condition is fully stabilised and while their medication is being adjusted. Initially, regular hospital appointments and blood tests (including a blood test known as a ‘day curve’, which may require a whole day absent from work) will be required to monitor the condition. Read more in our 'When an employee has Addison's' leaflet They will need to go to several healthcare appointments a year. They’re an essential part of managing their condition and help reduce the risk of serious complications. If you manage someone with Addison’s or adrenal insufficiency, it’s vital you give them time off for these essential checks. Check your policies on managing people with long-term health conditions and approving time off for medical appointments. When people with Addison’s or adrenal insufficiency get illnesses like a cold, flu or stomach bug, they will need to change their medication regime (Sick Day Rules) and manage their body’s reaction carefully to avoid a life threatening adrenal crisis. They may need extra support from their healthcare team. So allow them time to get better and provide flexible working options if appropriate as they return to work. Discuss this with your company's occupational health team if you have one. Stress can slow down their recovery even further and can affect their Addison’s or adrenal insufficiency too, so think about emotional wellbeing too. Emotional wellbeing It’s hard being diagnosed with Addison’s or adrenal insufficiency. And it’s often hard living with it (the full-time job nobody asked for!) So be aware of any challenges your colleague is facing and be there for them if they need support. Stress and stressful situations at work (things like interviews, increased workload, threat of redundancy) can make it harder for someone to manage their Addison’s or adrenal insufficiency. Please be aware of this, listen to them if ask for extra support or days to rest. You can read more about stress here on our website – take a look to make sure you’re in the know and can support your colleague. If you manage someone with Addison’s or adrenal insufficiency who might be struggling like this, discuss if any reasonable adjustments at work may help. If they need professional help, they should speak first to their doctor. If you have an employee assistance programme or in-house counsellor, you could point them there too. You can also recommend our online forum for peer support or The Wren Project. Personal Emergency Plan & Adrenal Crisis Guidelines This Personal Medical Emergency Plan template is a useful way of summarising an employee's personal medical needs in the event of an emergency, at work. Keeping a copy of the Adrenal Crisis Guidelines in the staff file is also helpful, so this guidance can be passed on to a medical professional should your colleague become unwell at work. Living With Addison's Disease : A Guide For People With Addison's, Supporters & Professionals Everything you wanted to know about living with Addison's - but were afraid to ask. This ground-breaking, unique book covers a wide range of aspects of Addison's from both a medical and patient perspective. From causes, diagnosis, treatment options, how to work with your doctors through to advice for navigating life's journey including sports/active life, pregnancy, the menopause. Co-authored by Professor Simon Pearce and Sarah Spain, the book marries evidence-based clinical best practice with the practical day-to-day hints & tips to not just survive, but thrive with Addison's Disease. Highly recommended! The book is available in paperback and for Kindle at Amazon, globally. Buy At Amazon Managing Your Addison's Disease This leaflet, Managing Addison's disease, has been developed by our Clinical Advisory Panel. It provides a summary of the key points everyone with Addison's and adrenal insufficiency needs to know to manage their health. It is designed primarily to assist those who have been recently diagnosed and is ideal for employers who want to better understand the day-to-day aspects of the condition. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have lived with the condition for years - please join our community and support our cause! You'll receive the latest expert advice, guidance and ADSHG news, whilst being part of our inspiring and supportive community. Become a member today! Join the ADSHG Say hello! Follow us on X / Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. Manage Cookie Preferences