Epilepsy in a Dutch working population: are employees diagnosed with epilepsy disadvantaged?

The present study was designed to determine whether employees diagnosed with epilepsy, in contrast to comparable colleagues, encounter disadvantages in their professional careers. Attention was focused on education, job training, number of jobs performed, sickness absenteeism, accidents at work and wages. A group of 34 employees diagnosed with epilepsy was selected and compared with matched, non-epileptic colleagues. Slight differences between both groups were found for all items except for education. Only for wages was a statistically significant difference found. It is concluded that workers diagnosed with epilepsy and comparable colleagues both received the same educational and vocational training in order to reach their position. The data did not substantiate the proposition that employees diagnosed with epilepsy have poor attendance records, higher number of accidents in the workplace or that they are at a disadvantage in securing a job. However their salaries appear to be lower than the earnings of colleagues who hold comparable jobs.