They are IN!

Are you IN? was launched in May. It’s already having an impact, with 29 businesses signed up to date and nearly 300 others expressing an interest.

We’re encouraging employers to create a supportive work environment for employees with invisible disabilities and chronic health conditions such as Crohn’s and Colitis. Organisations can commit to a several pledges. These include raising awareness and providing staff training on Crohn’s and Colitis and other invisible conditions. They will also offer remote and flexible working, and place Not Every Disability is Visible signs on accessible toilets. They can access a range of resources including information leaflets and infographics.

Are you IN? is the work-focused phase of our Not Every Disability is Visible campaign and is supported by pharmaceutical giant Janssen-Cilag Limited.

To date, more than 18,000 supporters have taken part by completing a template email which is then sent to 37 major UK employers. That means almost 70,000 emails have been sent out to date, explaining about the campaign and urging the employer to sign up.

Employers that have already signed up include big players in the pharmaceutical sector, local authorities, NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, and small businesses, including a hair salon, a photography studio and a plumbing company. In addition, almost 100 companies have responded positively to the email and asked for more information about the campaign.

Samantha Cleasby, who co-runs Timm Cleasby Photography as studio manager alongside her husband, says: “I have Ulcerative Colitis and a permanent ostomy bag so when we saw this campaign we were keen to get involved. Through my own experience we know how tough it can be to work with an invisible disability and so if we can do anything to improve that, we will. 

“As a small business who has struggled through the pandemic, if we can get involved and ensure our employees are fully supported, then anyone can. It comes down to listening, educating ourselves and making steps to ensure that all our staff have the same opportunities regardless of their health.”

Simon Corbett, managing director of Jargon PR, has had Crohn’s for six years and is very enthusiastic about the campaign. “All of the insight provided by Crohn’s & Colitis UK is absolutely brilliant, inspiring and helpful,” he says. “I had a rotten first two years with Crohn’s. I was very lucky because I owned my own business but it would have been very difficult if I’d had a traditional job. We want to make sure that staff know that we totally empathise with people with invisible disabilities. We will welcome them into the business and make provisions to support and help them.”

Jargon PR, which has almost 30 employees, already had some disability-friendly policies in place, but is now ensuring that invisible conditions such as Crohn’s and Colitis are discussed in team and company-wide meetings.

“A lot of employees come to us through recommendations from existing staff so it’s important that our staff are educated about the campaign,” says Simon. “They’ve been really interested to learn about it and are very supportive, and it feeds perfectly into the important work around mental health and wellbeing taking place today.” The company is now in the process of preparing content that will showcase the campaign more widely on its social media feeds and blogs.

As well as helping employees, Simon believes that signing up to the campaign can bring business benefits. “First of all, we’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do. But it also means you can support a wider pool of talent, and it’s great for our company ethos to be seen as a forward-thinking and inclusive employer. We’ve had some very good feedback from clients and it means we’re an agency they want to do business with. The rewards far outweigh the investment in terms of time and effort. I’d 100% recommend it to other organisations.”