Triggers related to epilepsy are highly individualized and depend on both the person and their job role, emphasizing the need for tailored accommodations.

A number of different working conditions can be envisaged, depending on each individual case.

Flexible scheduling : Sleep deprivation, disruption of circadian rhythms, stress, fatigue and social isolation are all aggravating factors. Night and early morning shifts should be avoided to ensure that the elderly get sufficient rest. Similarly, potential delays in treatment can generate an increased risk of epileptic seizures if medical needs are not met.

Allowing flexible working hours or remote working options are relevant accommodations to take account of medical appointments and varying energy levels.

Modified work and environment : Another accommodation is to provide a quiet, unstimulating workspace to minimize the risk of seizures triggered by environmental factors such as bright lights or loud noises, and ensure a safe environment.

Occupational health services need to visit the premises to discuss accommodations and to create a safe perimeter around the employee’s workstation to avoid injury. This may include restructuring the layout of the workspace to minimize injury risk during a seizure, possibly by placing padding on sharp corners or allocating a safe zone where the employee can retreat if they sense an oncoming seizure.

Accommodations must be job-specific. It’s important to be able to design ergonomic workstations and provide adapted tasks that take into account the type of epilepsy. Providing tool equipment such as anti-glare screens, noise-cancelling headphones and reminder apps to help manage work tasks efficiently can also be very useful.

Adjusting job responsibilities can help reduce high-stress tasks or those that can trigger seizures. Employers can consider task-sharing arrangements or redistributing tasks among team members to meet an employee’s needs without compromising productivity.