Attitudes of Major Employers Toward the Employment of People with Epilepsy: A 30‐Year Study

Abstract

Beginning in 1956, major San Francisco Bay area employers were sampled at 10-year intervals for a 30-year period to assess attitudes toward the employment of epileptic workers. In this time, we documented a trend of sustained positive change that appears to validate the efforts of organizations that have focused on raising public awareness of this disorder.

Factors associated with increased felt stigma among individuals with epilepsy

“…In many advanced societies, a significant number of discriminatory laws against PWE that were present as recent as the mid-20th century have already been rescinded [39] and public misperceptions against epilepsy is decreasing [40][41][42] while employer attitudes toward PWE are improving [43]. According to Scrambler and Hopkins [44], while a significant number of individuals with epilepsy experience felt stigma, only a few can recount actual experiences of discrimination.…”

Employers' Attitudes to Employment of People with Epilepsy: Still the Same Old Story?

“…Previous surveys of employer attitudes to employment have generally been prey to low response rates and ours is no exception. Response rates to the surveys by Hicks and Hicks fell from 63% in 1966 to 41% in 1986 (30). The survey by Gade and Totges (34) achieved a response of 47%; that by Roessler and Sumner (39) one of only 21%; our own, one of 40%.…”

“…This holds true both for surveys of general populations (24–29) and for surveys of specific subgroups (30,31), including coworkers and employers. With regard to the latter group specifically, the series of mail surveys conducted by Hicks and Hicks (30,32,33) at 10 yearly intervals from 1956 to 1986, is generally cited as providing evidence of significant change in attitudes of major employers in the United States. For example, between 1956 and 1986, the percentages of employers reporting that there were jobs in their organization fillable by PWE rose from 79% to 100% and that they knowingly employed PWE rose from 21% to 95%.…”

Quality of Life of People with Epilepsy in Iran, the Gulf, and Near East

“…One explanation for the particular impact felt by people with epilepsy relates to the stigma, which has, historically, been associated with it (19). Numerous world‐wide studies have documented misunderstanding, negative attitudes, and a basic lack of knowledge about the disorder among people with epilepsy themselves, their close family members (20), the general public (21–23), and among specific population subgroups such as health professionals (24,25) and employers (26,27). Another explanation relates to the clinical uncertainties that are a continuing feature of epilepsy for many people with it.…”