IBS in the Workplace

IBS is a cost to employers in today’s workplaces through both absenteeism and presenteeism. 

 

The effects of IBS are at times debilitating and IBS is one of the most common reasons for absence from work. Although a chronic condition, IBS does not require sufferers to take long term sick leave. Suffers may, however, find themselves needing periodic days off work because of acute flare-ups of symptoms. 

 

The effects of IBS are also a driver of presenteeism, distracting employees from full productivity. Their talent may be physically present but it is sidelined by the internal distress of gut symptoms. 

 

IBS has an impact on quality of life, with sufferers reporting lower quality of life than the general population and even than people who have conditions with an increased chance of mortality. IBS is associated with mental health difficulties, such as anxiety and depression. 

Struggling with episodes of intense pain and gastrointestinal distress leads to time off work. These and other symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, anxiety or depression have an impact on a person's ability to be at work. 

 

The emotional impact of living with IBS is high. Its disruptive nature has employees waiting for the unpredictable symptoms and inevitable toilet urgency. This constant state of hypervigilance threatens creativity and damages morale. 

IBS, probably the most common condition diagnosed by gastroenterologists, is not contagious. It affects mainly people aged between 20 and 40 years, particularly women. Symptoms for a diagnosis include altered bowel habits (constipation, diarrhoea or a combination) and abdominal pain or cramping which have been ongoing. Other symptoms are bloating, back pain and nausea. The condition is also associated with anxiety and depression. A diagnosis of IBS is made when tests have been carried out to exclude other conditions, as there is no definitive test for IBS. 

 

Ten years ago IBS was reclassified by the Rome IV criteria as a “disorder of gut-brain interaction”. This challenged previous misconceptions and placed the gut-brain axis at the heart of our understanding of this complex chronic condition. Previously IBS was considered a functional gastrointestinal disorder, because no structural or metabolic changes could be detected. But IBS goes beyond a gastrointestinal disorder, involving the complex network of the gut-brain axis. 

 

Although IBS is one of the most common reasons for a visit to the GP, the incidence of self-reported IBS is also high. Diagnosis by a doctor ensures that other conditions (such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Coeliac Disease) have been ruled out. 

Although stress is a normal part of life, work-related stress is an increasing cause of health related problems. Stress is known to be a factor in IBS, which is recognised as a stress-sensitive condition. 

 

Stress both contributes to the development of IBS and is a consequence of living with the challenges of IBS. Everyone’s experience of stress is different. One person may have a heightened sensitivity to stress, another may have experienced past traumatic events or stress may be a chronic aspect of life. 

 

The intricate microbiome-gut-brain axis co-ordinates physical and emotional health, involving the enteric nervous system, the autonomic nervous system and the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis. As disruption in this axis has an impact on gut and emotional health, stress may manifest itself as distress in the gut. Stress affects the autonomic nervous system and causes the HPA axis to be overactive or underactive. Stress affects the enteric nervous system which is in charge of basic gut function. Stress also causes changes in the microbiome which is integral to the health of the gut-brain axis. 

 

Reducing the friction of stress triggers in the workplace supports not only the emotional but the physical health of the team. 

An IBS friendly work culture supports individuals to manage their IBS with confidence, freeing them to focus on the tasks of the day. While disclosure is voluntary and confidential, reducing the stigma and respecting dignity supports open communication about this condition. 

 

IBS is a legitimate health condition that may require reasonable adjustments. While requirements may vary for individuals, some foundational arrangements may make all the difference: 

 

 

Adjustments in a supportive workplace reduce the impact of IBS on work productivity and human morale. 

There is no cure as such for IBS but a holistic and personalised approach enables sufferers to mange their individual symptoms of IBS with confidence. The most effective treatment is personalised with a holistic context for each individual. 

 

Food choices are a priority in supporting IBS symptoms. Food recommendations include: 

 

A tailored step by step approach helps individuals to manage their IBS with confidence. 

The transition from viewing IBS as a private concern to acknowledging a collective responsibility removes obstacles and frees the full potential of sufferers of IBS to contribute to the workplace. IBS friendly arrangements in the workplace help to protect the most valuable resource of the workplace: its people.