New data released today reveals that nearly a third (32%) of people living with bipolar have experienced discrimination at work at some point during their career, with a quarter of respondents opting to keep their condition private.

The nationwide survey of over 1000 people conducted by the national mental health charity Bipolar UK assessed the experiences of the bipolar community in the workplace and revealed common instances of stigma, insensitivity, misconceptions, and even job loss.

Bipolar UK has recently joined forces with world-renowned chef Heston Blumenthal, OBE, to change perceptions and reduce stigma in the workplace.

In a separate survey commissioned by Heston, it was revealed that 47% of those with a mental health condition like bipolar or a neurodiversity like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have found it harder to get a job, and 52% found the recruitment process harder because of their condition.

Heston, who was diagnosed with ADHD in 2017 and who has recently spoken about his own bipolar diagnosis, added, “Although there are tough days, I would attribute some of my most creative moments to bipolar. Creativity and perfectionism are two common traits for those who live with the condition.”

It is estimated that there are over a million people in the UK living with bipolar, and many of them manage the condition well, yet the employment rate among people with bipolar is estimated to be between 40 and 60%, significantly lower than the average employment rate of 74% in the general population.

The Bipolar UK workplace survey also found that almost a quarter of those in work with bipolar do not tell their employer or colleagues about the condition, with many citing “fear of stigma” as the main reason.

A lack of understanding about the condition by employers and colleagues was reported as a problem by 57% of respondents, while 44% said that stigma and preconceived ideas about the condition were an issue.

One of those surveyed, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “I don’t want to tell anyone at work that I have bipolar because people have ideas about what it’s like to live with mental illness, but they often don’t have a clue. I don’t want anyone to judge me or to make any assumptions about what I might need.”

Another 24% of people surveyed said they had told their employer but now regretted it, citing unfair treatment, insensitivity, broken confidentiality, negative impacts on career progression, and even job loss.

Commenting on the findings, CEO of Bipolar UK, Simon Kitchen, said: “While it is illegal to discriminate against an employee with any disability, including a mental health condition, the survey reveals an alarming lack of understanding about what people living with bipolar do and don’t need at work.

“It is vitally important that employers and HR teams recognise and address these barriers effectively and acknowledge the need for more nuanced approaches to fostering supportive workplace environments for employees who choose to share that they have bipolar.

“There is a common misconception that people living with bipolar are unable to or don’t want to work, but only 6% of survey respondents said they were out of work and not looking for work. Many of them aren’t offered the opportunity to fulfil their potential or given the support they need to thrive.

“People with bipolar disorder bring many qualities to the workplace, including creativity, intelligence, and empathy. If individual differences and contributions are recognised and valued, this allows all staff to use their talents and resources to maximise efficiency.

“Creating the right culture and conditions doesn’t only benefit individuals with bipolar, but wider teams and society in general.”

The survey findings show there are a number of reasonable adjustments that often help to make bipolar easier to manage in the workplace. Most of these adjustments aren’t expensive or difficult to implement; for example, a flexible work schedule and environment, time out for medical appointments, and post-episode recovery support.

Simon Kitchen added: “The benefits of empowering people with bipolar are enormous, for the individual, their family, employers, the NHS, and the Exchequer. The charity has worked with – and continues to work with – literally thousands of people with bipolar disorder who are working successfully in many different fields, including law, retail, finance, media, IT, the third sector, and the creative arts.

“Building bipolar-friendly workplaces benefits individual people and workplaces, as well as society and the economy in general.”