Would you be honest at the interview or not if you had health problems?

Ladywriter1968

What advice have people got for me out there with this problem? Ok, here goes.

I have hypertension, which is controlled by medication, it does not affect my living life. I have had this a few years now.
A few weeks ago I was also diagnosed with an Under Active Thyroid which I have to keep having blood tests for until it levels itself out, so the doctor knows what medication levels I need to be on for it to work properly. Been told it can take months, even up to a year and half.

If you was at an interview and the employer said to you, do you have any health issues?
What would you answer!

1. No! I am fine.
2.Yes I do but I am dealing with it!
3.Or say, I am fine.
But if offered the job then say, I have been diagnosed with this and now need to see the doctor which means I will have to take time off for the appointments, but I will make up any time lost!

These are the draw backs I can see.

1. If I lie, it could back fire on me later, but then I could turn to plan 3. above to cover myself.

2. If I tell the truth they wont take me on cause then will be thinking, will she keep taking time off for appointments, we want someone who is healthy, not with health problems.

3. Which could happen at any time, any of us could end up becoming ill with health issues anyway. Its just I have slightly bent the truth by saying, I got it after you employed me not before, thus having a job that I may not have got if I told the truth at interview.

4. But then again. My friend was diagnosed with an illness and had to take time off for tests with hospitals and doctors etc, and they sacked her, when she fought them in a tribunal to save her job she lost the case. She even had back up from the doctors and all. But the company simply said, you take to much sick time for these appointments.

I can see their point from a business view,
But
its not really her fault is it either.
She didn't plan it or do it deliberately just as I never planned to get hypertension or thyroid disease.

People are human after all. Not robots.

Plus sometimes now you even have to complete health forms on top.

After her ordeal with the company she had probs getting another job after that cause of them. Now she is just on sickness benefits. Maybe if her employer had of been more understanding she would have still been there, rather then claiming benefits now. Even if she made up her time they still was not happy she told me. So her career has gone from good to nothing all because of her poor health.

Where do I stand with mine?
Whats my chances now?
I am in my 40's, female
I have been out of work for 2 years now? Looking for a job and nothing.
Before you assume I am claiming benefits I am not. My husband works I don't claim any benefit so not taking from the system.

My husband was made redundant from his last company and was out of work for a year before he got the job he has now. And he has no health problems at all.

KiKi

I wouldn't lie, but I'd be 'breezy' about it!

If asked I'd say in a very light, breezy tone of voice "I take medication for hypertension but that's it, it doesn't affect work." Ie, I wouldn't say "I have hypertension", just that I take tablets for something which is irrelevant to them.

But I think you have to read the interviewer and how the interview is going.

KiKi

Uncertain

There are now legal restrictions on asking medical questions at interview so the whole issue may not arise.

Remember however that you have very little legal employment protection in the first year so an employer can generally terminate your employment if they are unhappy for any reason. This includes medical absence however genuine it may be.

If your illness amounts to a disability (in the legal / employment) sense, this this gives a LITTLE extra protection.

So, my view would be not to advance any medical information unless it is asked for. If the prospective employer is stupid enough to ask for this in an illegal way then you may have a claim against them, although I appreciate this is not your objective.

Hermia

I have never been asked medical questions in an interview. I thought it was not allowed anymore. I think if there are any medical issues they are concerned about (if you had to fill in a medical form) they would discuss it with you at a later date.

I have an underactive thyroid and think you may be worrying too much. You may need a year of blood tests, but maybe not. My doctor managed to work out my dose fairly quickly. In my surgery the nurse does the blood tests and it literally only takes a couple of minutes. So, I book the first appointment in the morning or the last appointment of the day. This means that I only arrive slightly late for work which my boss is fine about. Before getting stressed out find out how your GP can accomodate you. I know more surgeries are offering evening appointments etc. Perhaps if you know what your options are you will feel better about approaching the interview. I have had an underactive thyroid for 8 years. I always declare it on the medical form and have never been asked about it.

starchild1972

Questions about health are not allowed anymore BUT as a disabled person myself there would be certain things I would/may need. Time off for hospital appts, acceptance of medication side effects etc. Remember the DDA does NOT cover you if you do not tell your employer /prospective employer about these extra needs that may/will arise.

As a prospective employer I would hope this information would be volunteered so that I could make the essential adjustments...e.g. cover on appointment days, lower work load when unwell, dealing with medication side effects, dealing with possible complications during a first aid incident etc etc.

Ladywriter1968

starchild1972 wrote: »

Questions about health are not allowed anymore BUT as a disabled person myself there would be certain things I would/may need. Time off for hospital appts, acceptance of medication side effects etc. Remember the DDA does NOT cover you if you do not tell your employer /prospective employer about these extra needs that may/will arise.

As a prospective employer I would hope this information would be volunteered so that I could make the essential adjustments...e.g. cover on appointment days, lower work load when unwell, dealing with medication side effects, dealing with possible complications during a first aid incident etc etc.

You may know the answer to this question?

Would you say that thyroid disease and hypertension is a disability then? Cause I never really thought it was.

Foggster

Interesting question. I have an over active thyroid but have never lost time off work for it. I would have no issue at declaring it on a medical form if I was requested to fill one in. Unfortuntely, I have been refused life insurance for having this condition even though it is being very well managed with medication.

liney

'Old age, nothing to worry about, you know.. ha, ha'

Implies minor ailments without being specific. Your doctors appointments are likely to be infrequent; book 1/2 day holiday.

bluenoseam

Personally i will be openly declaring that i've HAD a medical problem which has been TREATED, however i require regular check ups for which the appointments are given to me a minimum of 2 months in advance and this will increase as time goes by. It's also fair to say i'll need to inform them about the fact i need a drink close at hand pretty much at all times - i don't think either of these is unreasonable and if any prospective employer disagrees then they can sod off until they go through what i have, then we'll see how "unreasonable" it is!

starchild1972

Ladywriter1968 wrote: »

You may know the answer to this question?

Would you say that thyroid disease and hypertension is a disability then? Cause I never really thought it was.

If it is a long term health condition/chronic illness then it would be covered over the DDA.
Conditions like ME, FMS, Hypermobility, HiV, lupus, asthma, eczema, coeliacs are all covered by DDA but the person with the condition may not be visually "disabled" or getting any disability benefits.

starchild1972

I will add that apart from my main disabilities I also have a minor liver condition, it may not be disabling in itself or even life threatening BUT if I am on high dose pain killers I tend to turn a little yellow, same if I went out for a "works drink". If I was employed I would want to tell them about this minor condition because jaundice can be horrible and I would not want clients assuming I had a drink problem.