Information for Employers
One of your employees has multiple
sclerosis—MS. What does
this mean to you and your staff?
MS is a chronic disease of the
central nervous system that is
most often diagnosed in adults
20-50 years of age—prime working
years. It is not contagious.
The symptoms of MS are unpredictable
and vary from person to person. Most
people learn to manage their symptoms
and remain productive.
Today, MS can be controlled
With the advent of new medications, all
approved by the FDA, the outlook for
continued long-term productivity and
quality of life for many people with MS
is greatly improved. The use of one of
these drugs may
reduce the number of
days your employee
might be acutely ill.
This exciting new
the face of MS.
MS symptoms are often present for a
period of time and then go away. This
is typical of other chronic, fluctuating
conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or
rheumatoid arthritis. Medical management
is available for many MS symptoms.
Your employee will learn to compensate
Sometimes an employee may need an
accommodation on the job to ensure
work performance that meets your
Accommodations for MS are rarely
complex or expensive. As the “expert” on living with MS, your employee will
research accommodations and offer proposals
for your consideration.
For example, you might be asked to
provide a telephone headset or to
schedule brief rest periods. Accommodations
are always negotiated on a
case-by-case basis and may not impose
a major financial hardship on an
employer. A mutually acceptable
accommodation will enable you to
benefit from the productivity of a
- Because symptoms typically come
and go, people with MS may not
always use their accommodations.
- No two people
with MS will
- Some people with MS will never
need an accommodation.
Your employee will expect you to offer
the same training and promotion opportunities as would have been given
before you learned of the diagnosis.
of others may
be the most difficult problem associated
with this illness. Co-workers
or supervisors may be fearful, overly
helpful, or resentful of accommodations.
Sometimes, if the symptoms
are invisible or have remitted, others
don’t believe the person has a real
medical problem. MS-related fatigue
is the most misunderstood symptom.
People think they know what it is like
to be tired. MS fatigue is unique and
can’t be overcome by “trying harder”.
MS fatigue can often be managed
with a brief rest period.
Can we help?
The National MS Society offers
educational programs, information,
publications, videos, and local referrals.
Call 1-800-FIGHT-MS (1-800-
344-4867) to be connected to the
Society office nearest you. For more
information on MS and the Society’s
programs, please visit our Web site at