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Migraine work accommodations
Practical, non-legal examples of migraine workplace accommodations, documentation, and conversations with managers or HR.
Migraine work accommodations can reduce preventable triggers and help someone keep working. This is practical education, not legal advice.
Possible accommodations
Examples include reduced glare, screen filters, lighting changes, scent reduction, quieter workspace, flexible scheduling, remote work when appropriate, break access, water and snack access, and a plan for severe attacks.
Focus on function
When talking to a manager or HR, describe what the migraine affects: driving, screen use, bright light, concentration, speaking in meetings, nausea, medication side effects, or needing a dark quiet place while treatment works.
Document patterns
A migraine diary can help show frequency and impact without oversharing private details. Track migraine days, missed work, medication days, attack duration, and specific workplace barriers such as glare, scent, noise, or schedule disruption.
Prepare the conversation
Track migraine frequency, missed work, medication side effects, and specific workplace triggers. Ask your clinician what documentation they can provide. Use HR or legal guidance for formal accommodation rights in your location.
What not to do
Do not wait until a severe attack to invent the process. Decide ahead of time who to notify, how deadlines are handled, whether remote work is possible, and when urgent medical care is needed.
Sources
- American Migraine Foundation: Navigating migraine at work
- American Migraine Foundation: Migraine at work PDF
- Mayo Clinic: Migraine symptoms and causes
Migraine Manager is a personal health journal, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat any condition. Always follow your clinician's advice for diagnosis, medication, and treatment decisions.
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