Employer's Guide to Bipolar A guide to best practice for employers on supporting employees with bipolar. Expand A guide to best practice for employers on supporting employees with bipolar. Find appropriate management techniques and practical work-based strategies to support an employee, enabling them to continue contributing to your organisation's success. if you are interested in training from us to support bipolar employees, please contact us by email Download this booklet as a PDF Visit our Work and Learning pages
Employee's guide to bipolar A guide to your rights at work including returning to work after illness, agreeing an advance statement and reasonable adjustments. Expand A guide to managing a successful return to work and your rights at work. If you have bipolar and you are finding it hard either to get work, or to do your work when you're there, you're not alone. Download this booklet as a PDF
Agreed Reasonable Adjustments Form A form for your to use at work and designed to be used with our Employee and Employer Guides To Bipolar. Expand How to apply for reasonable adjustments at work The form below is designed to be used with our Employee's Guide to Bipolar and our Employer's Guide to Bipolar If you live with bipolar the provisions of the Equality Act (2010) apply and you are entitled to ask for reasonable adjustments at work to support you and help you stay well. Everybody's adjustments will vary but this form and our guides offer a template to help your write out what you would like. Download this form as a PDF
Should I tell my employer, line manager or work colleagues? Disclosing you bipolar diagnosis to your employer and other work related topics Expand Telling your manager and work colleagues about your illness is a personal decision, but you have to ensure you remain within the law and your contract of employment. If, for example, your employer specifically asks about any illnesses then you should disclose if you have a diagnosis of bipolar. Bipolar is covered by the Equality Act (2010) which allows you to ask for reasonable adjustments in the work place that help support any disadvantage you might be experiencing. If you do not tell your manager, you cannot expect your employer to make reasonable adjustments. Download our guides Bipolar UK produces two employment guides for employees and employers which can be downloaded for free What reasonable adjustments can I ask for? When considering reasonable adjustments to ask for you need to think about what triggers an episode of bipolar in the work place and how you and your company might consider changing that particular situation to avoid an episode. The adjustments need to take away the disadvantage you are facing and be of benefit to you. Our employment guides provide useful advice in this regard. If you or your employer wish to know more about reasonable adjustments, please email our Work and Learning team
Is bipolar a disability? Under the Equality Act 2010 bipolar disorder can be considered a disability. This mean that you can request reasonable adjustments at work and have other protections Expand A disability is defined under the Equality Act as: A ‘physical or mental impairment’ which has a ‘substantial and long-term adverse effect’ on an individual’s ‘ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. Bipolar will be considered a disability under the Act if it satisfies this definition, which is sometimes different to common perceptions of disability. Find more information about how the Equality Act can help and support you in our Employees' guide to bipolar and employment
Armed Forces Links to other websites and organisations that can offer information and support to current and former members of the armed forces, as well as their families. Expand Combat StressProvide timely, effective clinical treatment and welfare support to Veterans who suffer from psychological wounds. SSAFAWorks in partnership with other military charities and specialist organisations to ensure that those who need help get the support they need. The Royal British LegionProvides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community - serving men and women, veterans, and their families. The Army Families FederationAFF is the voice of the Army family. It empowers, acts as an advocate and an expert witness to promote a quality of life, which reflects the Armed Forces Covenant. Veterans Outreach Support (VOS)It is a unique meld of public, private and charity sectors offering one-stop assistance, including legal, housing, financial, employment help and mental health support. Veterans-AidOrganisation providing immediate practical support, as well as longer term counselling, rehabilitation and medical treatment. ABF The Soldiers’ CharitySupport for soldiers and former soldiers from the British Army, and their immediate families, when they are in need.
What do I need when returning to work after bipolar illness? Things to consider when going back to work after bipolar illness Expand A checklist of what to think about when preparing to return to work: Talk to your manager about a phased to work and build in a midway review point. If your employer knows about your diagnosis share and copy of the Bipolar UK Employers Guide with your manager. If your employer does not know about your diagnosis think about if now is the time - see the Bipolar UK Employees Guide for help. Make sure you take in any sick notes, not previously handed in, so that sick pay is not affected. Think about your journey to work and plan for back ups. If you have children. or caring responsibilities, are these affected? Check that your next of kin information is up to date with your employer. Ask about any employee assistance programmes to support your return to work. Consider if a temporary adjustment would help you. You can ask for an Occupational Health assessment on return, if you have had this in the past. Or ask for a Occupational Health assessment to develop any reasonable adjustments you might need. details of how to identify what reasonable adjustments you can request are in the Bipolar UK Employees Guide (p.13)