Is it legal for a prospective employer to ask about my health, particularly history

  • Thread starter Thread starter jackie r
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jackie r

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of major sickness. Cancer? Do I have to reveal the fact that I have had cancer on job application forms? I am totally clear now. Is it even legal for them to ask?
 
Yeah it's legal. You don't have to tell them anything but if you don't agree to them being allowed to write to your doctor they might get suspicious. Also if you don't disclose something and it later causes you to have time off work they would be legally able to dismiss you (if you read the stuff by where you sign and date the form it'll say this)
 
yes you have to tell them because 1. if you had loads of time off because of it you could be dismissed, 2. theyre insurance may not cover you in certain aspects of the job .

just state you are clear of it now and they can contact your gp for proof that your fit to work
 
Yes you have to tell them. my son has a disability with a major firm he has a lot of time off and gets paid for it. If you dont and have time off and they dont know why, you will get the sack and it will be too late to tell them now. They can help you in many ways as well.
 
They can ask you almost anything, but you can leave it blank if you don't wish to tell them. It may prejudice your application though. Medical conditions are usually confidential except on things such as insurance forms. Of course, if someone is applying to be a steeple-jack, they have to say if they have vertigo. You get the drift?
 
Hello,

(ANS) I think there are two ways to view this. No.1 Actually yes the propsective employer does have the right to ask you about your health IF its directly relevent to the nature of the job. For example:- if you have any serious mental health problems if you were applying for a job as a psychiatric nurse that would be relevent.

**Of course the prospective employer wants to make sure the person they apoint for this job is upto the doing the work. Looking at it from the employers persepective they are making an investment in who they take on so they want to get it right.

**There IS a fine line between asking relevent health questions that affect the job and just being overtly personal and just poking around into your personal life. The propsective employer is not allowed to get overly persoanl or poke around your personal history for voyueristic motives.

No.2 On the other hand I wouldn't lie in an interview about your health if directly asked. However, I would try everything not to mention it or I would try and steer the conversation away from that topic, or I would under play the importance of any health related questions.

**I've had proctitis and ulcerative colitis in 2000 but am better now and have zero symptoms so I never mention it in a job interview.

Hope that helps?

Kind Regards Ivan
 
If you have no medical issues at this moment in time, then no, you don't have to reveal past history.
 
its better for you if ur after a long term job cos if u need the time off and they want to fire you cos u never told me you dont have a leg to stand on. however if they know and still hire you they have no right to fire you.
better to have everything out in the open
 
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