■ Around 600,000 people in the UK are living with epilepsy, many of working age ■ Epilepsy is associated with disproportionately high levels of unemployment. People with epilepsy report that stigma about their condition impacts negatively on their job opportunities and hinders career progression ■ Research for the charity Epilepsy Action shows that unfair treatment stems from inaccurate or outdated assumptions about epilepsy among employers, particularly regarding the impact of seizures at work ■ Epilepsy need not be a barrier to a successful and fulfilling career; workplace support, informed by clinical expertise, can result in successful employment outcomes ■ Constructive dialogue about health and work can encourage people with epilepsy to disclose their condition and to suggest adjustments that would help them ■ Positive attitudes to disability in the workplace should be actively demonstrated ■ The research highlights a demand for user-friendly 'toolkits' or other materials for use by employers and people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Action is currently developing online tools in response to these findings ■ There are several different types of epilepsy, with many different causes, including: brain injury; brain tumours; problems with the way the brain developed in the womb; and genetic factors
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