Research from Diabetes UK Cymru has found that one in six (17 per cent) people with diabetes in Wales currently in work feel that they’ve been discriminated against by their employer because of their condition.
The survey also found that 40 per cent of respondents in Wales said that living with diabetes had caused them difficulty at work, slightly higher than the UK-wide response of 37 per cent. Three per cent of respondents in Wales had not told their employer that they have the condition, compared to seven per cent UK-wide.
30 per cent of Welsh respondents said that they would like time off work for diabetes-related appointments and flexibility to take regular breaks for testing their blood sugar or to take medication, higher than the 25 per cent recorded UK-wide.
Diabetes UK Cymru hopes that the survey will start a conversation about long-term health conditions in the workplace.
Managing diabetes can involve taking medication, including injecting insulin at the right time, and for some people, testing blood glucose levels multiple times a day.
There are vital health checks that everyone with diabetes should get to help prevent the onset of serious complications, which can require time off work. Employers can only help if they are aware that someone has diabetes and what the condition means, both day-to-day and in the long run.
Two years ago he left his full-time job at a shop because his managers didn’t understand his diabetes. David is currently looking for work, but is anxious he may experience similar problems in future.
David said:
“When I first started the job, I would call my employer if I had a hypo overnight or if my blood sugar levels were too high and they would let me start my shift later. This was fine until I started getting common colds and needed to take days off work.
“The HR team didn’t record that my days off work were because of my diabetes and after a change in management, I was given a written warning because I had taken three days of sick leave. This left me feeling really frustrated as they didn’t understand the seriousness of my condition, despite me trying to tell them.
“One day I had a hypo whilst working on the till. I called for my supervisor but when they came down they said I couldn’t leave the shop floor for 10 to 15 minutes. I needed to treat my hypo quickly and was worried I might become unconscious if I didn’t, so I ate some sweets whilst still in the shop, which we aren’t allowed to do.
“I decided to resign because the trust I had with my supervisor was gone. I am not working at the moment, but would love to find a part-time job so I have more time to manage my diabetes. However, because of this bad experience, I am worried about what might happen if I do find a new job and need to take time off because of my diabetes.”
Dai Williams, National Director, Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “People across Wales have spoken out about how a lack of understanding from their employers can make working with diabetes exhausting, stressful and also potentially life-threatening. We have even heard from people who had to give up their jobs in order to manage their condition safely.
“There are more than 191,000 people living with diabetes in Wales; the highest prevalence of the condition in the UK. Missing essential health checks or not taking medication on time can lead to devastating complications, such as amputations, stroke, heart disease or kidney failure.
“Discrimination and difficulties come about because employers lack knowledge about diabetes and do not understand its impact, or what day-to-day management of the condition entails. 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.”
To find out more about your rights at work if you have diabetes or for information about supporting people with diabetes in the workplace if you are an employer visit: www.diabetes.org.uk/work
