Allergies: The common condition that’s everybody’s business

Allergies affect up to 21 million people in the UK – roughly one in three of us. Whether it’s hay fever or reactions to bee stings or foods like peanuts or shellfish, the consequences range from discomfort or feeling miserable to anaphylactic shock, which can develop rapidly and be fatal.

As an employer, and as colleagues, we too need to be mindful of this reality and help those who are vulnerable by helping to minimise the risks and impacts on their working lives. This month, we’ve launched a campaign to increase awareness and change how we think about and respond to allergies in the workplace.

The growing problem

The ‘first wave’ of allergic conditions occurred in the 1970s with a surge in asthma and hay fever. We’re now seeing a ‘second wave’ as the number of people suffering from life-threatening food allergies rises sharply.

Food allergies alone affect around 2.4 million UK adults (those with clinically confirmed diagnoses), according to a 2024 Food Standards Agency study. The rate rises for children under the age of three to about one in 12 (6-8%). Diagnoses overall are increasing at a rapid rate – they more than doubled in the decade to 2018. The total number of allergy-related hospital admissions also doubled – to almost 26,000 in the 20 years to 2022-23. For food-related anaphylaxis and other adverse reactions, the number increased by more than 150% to 5,000. 

Allergy is the most common chronic disease in Europe. As many as one in five sufferers live with a severe form of their condition – and with constant fear of an asthma attack or anaphylactic shock.

Raising allergy awareness

Living with allergies is a personal (or parental) responsibility, but we are responsible for managing the safety and welfare of our people in the workplace. From dust mites in carpet to cleaning products, and materials such as latex (rubber) gloves to organic waste, there are many potential allergens. Even a colleague’s perfume could be a trigger.

We want our people to feel safe, supported and able to share their needs, including all allergies and intolerances, whether severe, moderate or mild. But creating that safe environment is a shared responsibility. In the case of food, for example, employees bring in, prepare and consume food items in canteens and staff kitchens that could pose a risk to colleagues.

As well as being mindful of colleagues’ wellbeing, our people also engage with members of the public and visitors to our sites, some of which host school trips and tours. Whether on site or off, they may be the first to recognise symptoms and respond in an emergency.

Understanding anaphylaxis

Increasing understanding of allergies and their implications is our first aim. We timed the launch of this awareness-raising phase shortly after Anaphylaxis Awareness Week at the beginning of June.

Our initial communications focused on anaphylaxis and allergy awareness, helping colleagues understand the signs, what to do in an emergency, and how they can get involved in improving support across the business. 

A series of communications are planned throughout the year to provide tips across the company on:

• How to spot the signs early
• What to do in an emergency
• The need for everyday awareness
• Why we should respect all allergies

Many colleagues manage allergies and intolerances every day. We need to understand their lived experience and are encouraging them to share their thoughts in confidence. In July, we’ll be hosting a focus group to explore these insights, which will inform one of our regular ‘Wellness for All’ podcasts designed to share this understanding more widely. 

Misconceptions on the allergy spectrum

There are many misconceptions that we are beginning to understand better and address through practical action.

People often think that allergies are either a dramatic, life-threatening emergency like anaphylactic shock or just a mild inconvenience. The reality is there’s a spectrum of allergic reactions – most of them invisible – and of impacts on health, wellbeing, inclusion and productivity.

Anaphylaxis is the severe end of the allergy spectrum. Many allergies may be less dramatic but still significantly impact daily life. Take hay fever. Sneezing is just one symptom. Others range from sore eyes and throat to nasal congestion, and allergic rhinitis, which can interact with asthma and make it worse. Even for non-asthmatics, exposure to pollens and other airborne allergens may affect sufferers’ energy levels and mood. 

Also, hay fever is not only a summer problem. Perennial allergic rhinitis causes year-round symptoms, usually due to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, pet dander and mould.

Then there’s the social dimension. For someone with food allergies, a team lunch, birthday cake in the office, charity bake sale or coffee morning can mean an awkward choice between staying safe and belonging. A shared kitchen could be problematic when labels are missing or co-workers bring in trigger foods. The constant need to explain and check is a burden, especially if colleagues are unsympathetic. Or a person may be self-conscious of their allergic eczema. People may end up feeling somewhat excluded.

Listen, educate, act

Having listened to our people explain the day-to-day challenges, we plan to tackle the barriers that colleagues may face when sharing details of their allergies or seeking support. A programme of education and action will follow, including: 

• Ensuring first aid training covers delayed allergic reactions and milder symptoms
• A short video guide on the signs of anaphylaxis and using an epi-pen
• Encouraging all employees to log their allergies on their employee profile in strict confidence
• Posters for kitchens and food-sharing areas
• Clear, simple guidance on how to act around allergies
• Tracking allergy-related incidents as part of our safety reporting.

As well as measuring our people’s engagement with our allergy awareness programme and gathering feedback, we intend to share our work externally. We can learn from those working to implement Benedict’s Law – the set of safety measures developed by campaigners following the heartbreaking death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe from anaphylaxis at school in 2021.

Our goal is not just to avoid emergencies but to create a workplace where people feel comfortable disclosing their needs and anxieties. Nobody has to choose between being safe and feeling they belong. And all of us share that aim.