Leading disability insurer, Unum, which is based in Basingstoke, has teamed up with RNID, the largest charity representing the UK’s nine million deaf and hard of hearing people, to launch the next phase of The Workplace of the Future (WotF) campaign. This initiative aims to raise awareness of tinnitus and other hearing related disabilities with employers and politicians.

Unum Chief Executive Officer Susan Ring (right) and Corporate Services Director, Joanne Hindle, launching the stand.

As part of the campaign and in an ongoing partnership now in its fourth year, RNID and Unum have created a new Workplace of the Future stand that will appear at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences. MPs from all three main parties have been invited to the stand which has been developed in order to help raise awareness of the little known condition tinnitus with politicians.

This year the stand will feature special ‘tinnitus headphones’ which when worn simulate the effects of tinnitus – the medical term for noises inside the ears or head. There is also a high-tech interactive screen showing a virtual office, which is fully accessible to those with hearing loss. Features in the virtual office include examples of assistive technology such as flashing smoke alarms to alert deaf and hard of hearing people to an emergency. The stand aims to demonstrate what employers can do to help support those with tinnitus lead a full working life.

Brian Lamb, Acting Chief Executive RNID, said:

Tinnitus can be a debilitating condition for many people, leaving them feeling isolated and stressed. Unfortunately there is no cure, however with simple techniques and equipment the condition can be managed and sufferers can lead a normal working life.

RNID has also developed a dedicated tinnitus helpline (0808 808 0123) and area on it’s website which can provide expert advice and tips to help those with tinnitus live life to the full.”

Joanne Hindle, Corporate Services Director at Unum, said:

No one should underestimate the debilitating effects of tinnitus both at work and home. We are delighted to join forces with the RNID to increase understanding and treatment of tinnitus as well as encourage employers to understand what changes they might make to help employees with the condition stay in work.

The ‘tinnitus headphones’, available on the stand, are part of RNID’s campaign to raise awareness of tinnitus not only amongst the public but GPs as well. The need for greater awareness is underlined by research(1) performed by the RNID which shows that as many as 15% of people have suffered from the condition whilst at the same time showing that 70% of GPs have never received any training on the illness.