Employment: Support for Young People with IBD

Yesterday we brought you news about the release of a new report about IBD, young people and work (which can be found on the main Me and IBD website). It raised concerns about finding employment and staying in employment. But what support is there for you?

You probably have the same hopes, aspirations and needs as any other young person, but for you IBD is also part of the equation. If you are looking for a job or are already at work, you may be wondering whether you need to tell prospective or actual employers about your condition. Or whether it is a good idea to tell your colleagues. What rights do you have; what rights does your employer have? What are your options?

All these questions are answered in our information sheet Employment and IBD: A Guide for Employees and some more info can be found in another of our info sheets IBD Concerns for Young People, which has all sorts of general info about life with IBD. 

Many people with IBD want to and do have a a successful work career, but sometimes managing IBD at work can be a challenge. Raising awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, their impact on work and the simple steps that employers can take to improve working conditions is what the charity is striving to achieve.

One way we've found useful is the Crohn's and Colitis UK 'Good Desk Bad Desk' website - www.GoodDeskBadDesk.com - which shows (unsurprisingly, given the name) a Good Desk and a Bad Desk for an employee with IBD. It's a really simple way of showing employers the nightmares that can be overlooked by people who are ignorant of IBD symptoms. The really basic stuff - such as being near the toilets or a bit of flexibility for hospital appointments. These things can make all the difference.

You can also help inform your new boss and work colleagues about IBD by giving them the information sheet specially designed for employers. It is intended to help employers and managers understand what it means to have IBD, and how it can be possible, sometimes with minimal changes, for people with Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease to work successfully and to fulfil their potential. It also considers the legislation that is relevant for managing people with such long-term health conditions.

"These challenges can be overcome but it requires action from people with IBD, their teachers, employers, and careers advisers, as well as policymakers and health professionals. By working together to implement some simple measures, we believe that people with IBD can be supported to gain the qualifications, education or training and access the careers they want, benefitting not only themselves and their families, but society and the taxpayer as well."

David Barker

CEO of Crohn's and Colitis UK

DID YOU KNOW??

One third of NEETS (that's those young people who are Not in Employment, Education or Training) don't claim benefits. 

If you'd like more information on your rights and for more details on what you may be entitled to head over to our main website, where there is a wealth of information. Click here.

IBD, Young People and Employment - New Report Released

Are you daydreaming about what you want to be when you grow up? Maybe you're off to university soon, or just finishing and just settingoff into the big wide world of work? Is it proving tough?

Well, it's a difficult time work-wise for everyone at the moment, but young people are really bearing the brunt of hard economic times - nearly 1 MILLION unemployed in the UK at the moment.

Today sees the release of Crohn's and Colitis UK's sub-report "Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Young People - The Impact on Education and Employment" which focuses on young people aged 16-25. It looks at the concerns of those still in education, support within the workplace for those who are already employed and offers recommendations as to what needs to be done in the future. You can view it here.

The original "Crohn’s, Colitis and Employment - from Career Aspirations to Reality" report, commissioned by Crohn’s and Colitis UK, was published in May 2011.This report aimed to assess the impact of IBD on career aspirations, opportunities and choices. It was based on the results of a survey conducted among almost 2,000 people in the UK with IBD. You may have seen coverage in the news:

An article in the New Statesman this month gave the following worrying statistics for young people leaving school this year:

• Last year 1 in 4 employers didn't employ a single person under the age of 25.
• On average, young people in the UK will spend 2.5 years out of work.
• Those with low or no qualifications are 3 times more likely to be unemployed.

These numbers don't make for pleasant reading, but don't be disheartened - in the report we found that young people in employment had a more positive outlook on aspects of employment than those still in education. In other words, if you've just been diagnosed and you're still at school please don't give up! While IBD is a chronic condition, with appropriate treatment it is often possible to remain well for long periods and many people with IBD are able to work full-time.

Here is a taster of the information from the report, the statements that pre-employed young people agreed with the most:

The full report, and a handy infographic illustrating the results, can be found on the Me and IBD website. Click here

The 2011 Crohn's and Colitis UK survey ("IBD and Employment") found that 81% of employees had told their employer or HR department about their IBD, and 77% had told their coworkers. Most employees said that they felt comfortable about discussing their condition.

Tomorrow we will bring you more information about IBD and Employment and the support that is available for young people.