Migraines are not just headaches. For women in business across the UK, a migraine attack during working hours can derail meetings, deadlines, and client relationships. According to The Migraine Trust, around 10 million adults in the UK live with migraine, and three in four of them are women (The Migraine Trust, 2024). If you are among them, knowing how to manage migraines at work, and what support you are entitled to, can make the difference between struggling through and staying productive.
This guide sets out the current UK figures, your legal rights, and practical steps you can take whether you are employed, self-employed, or leading your own company.
How Migraines Affect Working Life
The Migraine Trust estimates that there are around 190,000 migraine attacks every day in the UK (The Migraine Trust, 2024). The World Health Organisation ranks migraine among the leading causes of disability worldwide (WHO, 2019). For women in business, the impact is measurable: missed days, reduced concentration, and the pressure to push through pain.
Common migraine symptoms include throbbing head pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual disturbances. These do not lend themselves to spreadsheet analysis or client pitches. Yet many women try to work through attacks because they fear being seen as unreliable, especially in small businesses where every person counts.
Your Legal Rights and Entitlements
Statutory Sick Pay
If you are employed and too unwell to work because of a migraine, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay. SSP is paid at a weekly rate set by the government, usually updated each April. For 2025/26 the rate is £118.75 per week, paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks. You must earn at least the Lower Earnings Limit, which is £125 per week for 2025/26, and be off work for at least four consecutive days to qualify. Check the latest rates on gov.uk. Some employers offer occupational sick pay above the statutory minimum, so check your contract.
Flexible Working
Since 6 April 2024, employees have had a day-one right to request flexible working. This means you can ask for changes to your hours, start and finish times, or place of work from your first day in a job. Employers must deal with requests in a reasonable manner and can only refuse for specific statutory reasons. For women whose migraines follow a pattern, flexible working can help you avoid triggers such as rush-hour commuting or early-morning screen time. Our guide to flexible working rights in 2026 explains the process in detail.
Reasonable Adjustments Under the Equality Act 2010
Migraine may be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. ACAS guidance makes clear that employers should consider reasonable adjustments for staff with long-term health conditions. Adjustments for migraine could include screen filters, adjusted lighting, flexible break patterns, or a quieter workspace.
Managing Migraines at Work
Whether you employ yourself or work for someone else, these steps can help you manage migraines at work more effectively. They also support wider workplace wellness.
- Identify your triggers. Keep a simple diary for two weeks noting sleep, food, stress levels, screen time, and menstrual cycle. The NHS lists common triggers as stress, tiredness, certain foods, and hormonal changes.
- Talk to your employer or team. You do not need to share every detail, but explaining that migraine is a neurological condition helps others understand why you may need adjustments.
- Review your workstation. Position your monitor at eye level, use an ergonomic chair, and request a screen filter to reduce glare. Poor posture and eye strain are recognised migraine triggers.
- Control light and noise. If overhead lighting or background noise triggers attacks, ask to move desks, use noise-cancelling headphones, or work from a quieter area when needed.
- Plan around predictable patterns. If your migraines cluster at certain times of the month or after late nights, block lighter tasks for those days and avoid scheduling critical meetings then.
- Prepare a migraine kit. Keep water, a snack, any prescribed medication, and sunglasses or an eye mask in your bag or desk. Always obtain prescription medication through your GP or pharmacist.
- Know when to stop. Working through a severe attack often prolongs recovery. If you are self-employed, build sick days into your pricing and contracts so you are not financially penalised for taking rest.
When to Seek Medical Help
See your GP if your migraines are increasing in frequency, changing in character, or not responding to your usual management plan. The NHS can prescribe triptans and other treatments, and may refer you to a neurologist if needed. The Migraine Trust also offers free resources and a helpline for people living with migraine in the UK.
Action Steps
- Track your migraines for two weeks to identify triggers.
- Check your employment contract for sick pay and flexible working policies.
- Request any reasonable adjustments in writing, citing ACAS guidance if helpful.
- Review your workstation and lighting this week.
- Speak to your GP if attacks are worsening.
Conclusion
Migraines at work are a real and common challenge for women in business, but they do not have to derail your career. With the right legal knowledge, workplace adjustments, and medical support, you can reduce both the frequency and impact of attacks. Start with one trigger diary and one conversation this week.
