Working Together, an employment initiative of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), was officially launched at the Annual MSIF Conference in Jerusalem on 6 September 1995, following a series of pilot programmes in Belgium, Canada, New Zealand and UK.

The AIMS of Working Together are to:

• encourage understanding of the needs of people with MS in employment



• to encourage the adoption of appropriate support structures by employers and governments



• provide a framework for MS Societies and employers to work in partnership



• augment the effort of local MS Societies in empowering their members to take control of their daily working lives and to improve the quality of their life at work

The OBJECTIVES of Working Together are to:

• increase awareness about MS in the workplace
  
  
• enable MS Societies to identify and approach employers with whom to work and to encourage good practice



• ask employers to become engaged in the issue and commit themselves to long term human resource strategies



• enable MS Societies to work with employers on policy, procedures and practical steps that they can take for their benefit and the benefit of their employees

Why is there a need for an MS employment initiative?

There are known problems in the workplace for persons with MS a number of which are the direct result of employers perceiving MS as a medical condition that automatically leads to severe disability. Other problems may be as a result of co-worker's misunderstandings about the medical condition. Responses and reactions in the workplace have had an impact on persons with MS that has been equally as devastating as the diagnosis itself.

What happens when a person has MS?

MS affects different people in different ways. Some have a relatively mild form of MS and may never experience any symptoms which prevent them from working. Others may have to cope with varying degrees of disability from time to time, whilst some people may become severely disabled quickly. It is only a small proportion of people with MS who are so severely affected.

Overall what is the initiative asking of employers?

Employers are asked to work with the MS Society to identify ways in which a framework may be established in the organisation to enable persons with MS to remain in employment for as long as possible or for as long as they wish.

What does this involve?

This will depend on the current situation in an organisation, it will be for each individual organisation to develop its own approach. However, this may include examining how:

• MS is currently managed in this organisation


• other intermittent and fluctuating medical conditions are managed in the organisation

• they are based upon equality


• comply with current/upcoming legislation


• contain elements of flexibility in relation to intermittent and fluctuating medical conditions


• address the issues of continued employment in relation to employees with intermittent and fluctuating medical conditions

• increase awareness and understanding


• encourage a supportive enviroment


• encourage a more realistic attitude to persons with MS


• increase knowledge about the way MS does and does not affect people

What are the benefits for an employer of supporting the initiative?

Benefits for an employer supporting the initiative may include all or some of the following:

• maximising on their investments in an employee with MS, for example by not losing prematurely the skills and experience of a well trained member of the workforce


• avoiding potential difficulties by adopting a proactive approach to intermittent medical condition policy issues now, instead of waiting for a situation to arise


• confirming that existing/new policies and procedures comply with current or upcoming legislation


• capitalising on the expertise and support provided by the MS Society


• promoting a positive perception/image of the organisation to boh employees and external audiences.

The pilot programmes

The result of the pilot programmes were positive, revealing that employers are receptive to the initiative and interested in MS. The pilot programmes also demonstrated that Working Together provides a framework to increase awareness of MS as well as the services and support that MS Societies are able to provide employers on employment and a range of other issues.

Following the official launch of the initiative in September a number of MS Societies in other countries are actively exploring ways of participating in Working Together.

Working Together presents an opportunity for a unique partnership between employers and MS Societies to develop and encourage the adoption of policies to prevent discrimination against and ensure fairness and equality for a person with intermittent/fluctuating medical condition.

If this partnership is successful, it will be a significant achievement in that it will enable persons with MS to remain in employment and continue to contribute to the success of businesses.

The challenge is to identify an approach that balances the corporate goals and business requirements of employers with the needs of persons with MS.

If an organisation supports Working Together, where they begin and how they proceed will be determined by the organisation.