Marvin OnumonuResearch from The Migraine Trust found people with migraine were not taken seriously at work or at home.
As a result, one in four workers with migraine had left or thought about leaving a job due to unsupportive employers.
58% avoided telling their employers or colleagues about their migraine for fear of not being believed or taken seriously.
65% said others often did not believe their symptoms, and 77% said people joked about their condition.
The survey also showed that only 32% of people without migraine correctly identified it as a neurological condition.
60% thought migraine was just ‘a bad headache’ and 66% believed it was caused by ‘stress or anxiety’.
Additionally, 60% of people without migraine agreed migraine was often used as a joke, while 91% of people with migraine had worked through symptoms, often using annual or unpaid leave instead of sick days.
Less than two in five (under 40%) of those without migraine said they would be very likely to believe someone who called in sick, left early or could not finish a task due to migraine.
60% of people without migraine said they would feel concerned about hiring a qualified candidate who disclosed having the condition, rising to 83% among c-level executives.
Only 2% of people strongly agreed their workplace had migraine-friendly policies.
Chisola Chitambala, ambassador for The Migraine Trust, said: “Migraine can be completely debilitating, it affects every part of life.
“I’ve had attacks that have left me laying in a dark room for hours, not feeling right for days or even weeks.
“I now feel able to talk about my migraine and the support I need, but not everyone feels comfortable to do this, and not every employer responds supportively.”
Chitambala added: “People with migraine can bring such a diverse range of skills and experience to workplaces and many just need a bit of support and some adjustments in place to be able to stay in work and thrive.
“We need to see migraine being taken more seriously in workplaces.”
The Migraine Trust has called for better public education and more support at work, including signing up to its workplace pledge and making changes to national policies.
Rob Music, CEO of The Migraine Trust, said: “It is sad to see just how deep migraine misunderstanding runs in our society and the very real consequences this is having on people with the condition.
“In the workplace this can lead to people losing jobs, being overlooked for a promotion and trying to hide debilitating symptoms.
“With often small changes, employers can make a huge difference in the working lives of their staff with migraine., with the benefits extending to the organisation too.”
Music added: “Migraine is much more than just a headache—it’s a complex neurological condition that profoundly impacts daily life.
“We’re calling on employers and those who do not live with migraine to take time to learn what migraine really means this Migraine Awareness Week.”
