The IBS Network supporting thousands of IBS sufferers in the workplace
21st February 2018

                 Health and Wellbeing at Work 2018, Stand 181

                         6-7 March 2018, NEC, Birmingham

The IBS Network charity will be exhibiting at the Health and Wellbeing at Work conference in Birmingham for the second year running between 6-7 March 2018. Representatives from the UK’s national charity which supports people living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) will be on stand 181 to provide practical advice for employers to help their employees affected by this chronic condition.

IBS can cause disability for many and disrupt both the personal and working lives for thousands of people with this long-term illness. With around 10-20% of the UK population living with IBS, this represents a significant number in the workplace, and it is estimated that Britain’s businesses lose almost £3 billion every year through sick days related to gut health.

Recent research suggests that the number of employers reporting employee stress and mental health issues increased sharply from 55% in 2017 to 68% this year. Although stress does not cause IBS, it can be a trigger for many with the condition. Stressful situations and previous trauma, anxiety, diet, mood or lifestyle changes can all be triggers but this can be very specific to each individual. Diagnosing the condition is often complex and the symptoms can be very difficult to self-manage without the right expertise and support.

Due to its sensitive nature, many employees may be too embarrassed to admit to their managers, Occupational Health or HR professionals that they have IBS, and so face endless obstacles in trying to secretly control their condition at work. Employers, on the other hand, may not understand the debilitating effects IBS can have on those with the illness or even know what changes to make to alleviate the situation.

In recognition of IBS Awareness Month in April, the team will be distributing a ‘campaign in a bag’ which includes posters and leaflets for employers to distribute throughout their organisations. To find out more about how we can help improve the health and wellbeing at work for people with IBS, please meet The IBS Network team on stand 181, or go to www.theibsnetwork.org