Join us in raising awareness for migraine in the workplace
To mark Migraine Awareness Month this June 2025, Migraine Canada, along with Migraine Quebec and Pfizer Canada is supporting Out of Office for Migraine Awareness, a national campaign that continues to raise awareness about the impact of migraine in the workplace and empower colleagues to help foster a more supportive work environment.
An estimated 36% of people living with migraine missed between 4 to 16 days of work per year. Yet migraine remains stigmatized and misunderstood as being directly related to one’s ability to work. With a deeper understanding of what migraine is, colleagues can better support one another, reducing the stigma associated with taking time off due to migraine and allowing those living with the condition to prioritize accurate diagnoses, treatment, and their wellness.
Copy the message below and activate your OOO alert this June for four hours — the minimum duration of an average migraine — to raise awareness.
Let’s work together to help educate Canadians about the impact of migraine in the workplace.
Hi there,
Thanks for your message.
June is Migraine Awareness Month, and I’ve activated my Out of Office (OOO) alert to show support for those living with migraine.
I’m at my desk today, but many of the 5 million Canadians who live with migraine aren’t, due to the often-debilitating nature of this condition.
Did you know:
· According to a Canadian survey, for every 100 employees, 25 report living with migraine, yet only 12 are diagnosed by a healthcare provider.
· Migraine is an underestimated cause of absenteeism (i.e. when employees miss work due to an illness) and presenteeism (i.e. when employees are not fully functioning in the workplace because of an illness) in Canada.
· About 36% of people living with migraine have missed between 4 to 16 days of work per year due to the neurological disorder.
There are ways to help! Show your support and copy this message and activate your OOO alert for four hours — the minimum duration of an average migraine headache4— to raise awareness. For more information on how migraine affects Canadians, visit migrainecanada.org or migrainequebec.org.
For instructions on how to set up your OOO Alert, please visit the following resources for Microsoft Teams, Gmail, Outlook and Slack.
We hope you can join us in this simple but powerful show of support.
References
- Migraine Canada. Access to Care and Treatment for Migraine in Canada Report Card. Accessed March 2025 at migrainecanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MCReport-Card_FINAL_ENG.pdf
- Migraine Canada. Migraine is Disabling. Accessed March 2025 at migrainecanada.org/disability-and-migraine-2/
- Migraine Canada. What Should Your Employer Know About Migraine? Accessed March 2025 at migrainecanada.org/posts/the-migraine-tree/branches/social-life/what-should-your-employer-know-about-migraine/
