Work asking for very personal medical information.

j.e.j.

Dunroamin wrote: »

Why should physical health be relevant to employment and not mental health?

How is it different to be asked to tick a box answering the question "Do you suffer from diabetes?" from ticking a similar box asking "Do you suffer from depression?"

Because unfortunately there is still stigma attached to mental illness. Things are changing, slowly, but you do need to be careful what you say and to whom. I am not referring to depression particularly, - there are many different kinds of mental illness.

Also, there is more of a 'grey area' and degrees of depression, whereas, as far as I know there are not degrees to which someone can have diabetes. You have it or you don't.

With physical health, there are also things in my medical history that I personally would never tell an employer. It's private and none of their business and would have no bearing on the work I do, so why should I tell them.

miduck

j.e.j. wrote: »

Because unfortunately there is still stigma attached to mental illness. Things are changing, slowly, but you do need to be careful what you say and to whom. I am not referring to depression particularly, - there are many different kinds of mental illness.

Also, there is more of a 'grey area' and degrees of depression, whereas, as far as I know there are not degrees to which someone can have diabetes. You have it or you don't.

With physical health, there are also things in my medical history that I personally would never tell an employer. It's private and none of their business and would have no bearing on the work I do, so why should I tell them.

Mental health is the business of the employer - if you are susceptible to stress they need to know. They cannot help if you do not.

By treating mental health as "something that needs to be kept secret", you are reinforcing the stigma attached to it.

AP007

hcb42 wrote: »

I merrily started ticking away, until the questions became more and more silly. When I got to "Have you ever had period pain?" I chucked it in the bin. Find me a woman in her forties who hasn't!!! No one ever followed it up.

Only women in their 40's have? I have suffered since the age of 12! and I know many girl friend who have no pain and think you are mental.

Dunroamin

j.e.j. wrote: »

Because unfortunately there is still stigma attached to mental illness. Things are changing, slowly, but you do need to be careful what you say and to whom. I am not referring to depression particularly, - there are many different kinds of mental illness.

Also, there is more of a 'grey area' and degrees of depression, whereas, as far as I know there are not degrees to which someone can have diabetes. You have it or you don't.

With physical health, there are also things in my medical history that I personally would never tell an employer. It's private and none of their business and would have no bearing on the work I do, so why should I tell them.

If you put mental illness in a separate category, all you are doing is pandering to any residual stigma that may still exist.

I can't understand the idea that some medical conditions and some body parts are more private than others. Are you saying that questions about lung or stomach cancers are ok but but bowel, testicular and cervical cancers aren't? Don't you think that's a very dangerous attitude to take?

System

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

If you've worked somewhere for 8 years without having to have special things put in place then why would you suddenly need it now? .

Having one standard questionnaire for all instead of separate ones for new starters, a different one for people who have been with the firm 2 years etc. is the reason for the questions.

It will be a STANDARD (for that company) questionnaire regardless of length of service.

Gilbert2

j.e.j. wrote: »

Thankfully I don't participate in the depressing world of being an employee and, hopefully, I never have to again in my working life.

Amen to that!

Absolutely.

Imagine, that due to a simple quirk of fate, I'd have to suffer more time each week with, say, you, than I would any of my family or friends.

:wall:

j.e.j.

miduck wrote: »

Mental health is the business of the employer - if you are susceptible to stress they need to know. They cannot help if you do not.

By treating mental health as "something that needs to be kept secret", you are reinforcing the stigma attached to it.

I would use the word confidential rather than 'secret', as it is more appropriate for medical notes, etc. No-one has the right to see them except you and your doctor. In fact even you have to pay if you want access to them.

Dunroamin wrote: »

If you put mental illness in a separate category, all you are doing is pandering to any residual stigma that may still exist.

I can't understand the idea that some medical conditions and some body parts are more private than others. Are you saying that questions about lung or stomach cancers are ok but but bowel, testicular and cervical cancers aren't? Don't you think that's a very dangerous attitude to take?

I never cease to be amazed by some of the attitudes on here!

And who on earth said anything about any cancers being OK??????

What I am talking about is confidential medical notes. They should remain confidential. If the employee is happy to disclose them to the employer, fine, no problem. It is down to the individual how much information they wish to give, or not to. I personally would be cautious, and would certainly not let on everything that's in my medical notes, as it's none of their business and has no bearing on the job.

I do like the line that the 'employer can help you' if you tell them you've got xyz. That may be true but it would be naive in the extreme not to acknowledge that equally they could find an excuse to get rid of you and employ someone else!

j.e.j.

Gilbert2 wrote: »

Imagine, that due to a simple quirk of fate, I'd have to suffer more time each week with, say, you, than I would any of my family or friends.

:wall:

oh, that's charming! :eek::rotfl:

miduck

j.e.j. wrote: »

I would use the word confidential rather than 'secret', as it is more appropriate for medical notes, etc. No-one has the right to see them except you and your doctor. In fact even you have to pay if you want access to them.



I never cease to be amazed by some of the attitudes on here!

And who on earth said anything about any cancers being OK??????

What I am talking about is confidential medical notes. They should remain confidential. If the employee is happy to disclose them to the employer, fine, no problem. It is down to the individual how much information they wish to give, or not to. I personally would be cautious, and would certainly not let on everything that's in my medical notes, as it's none of their business and has no bearing on the job.

I do like the line that the 'employer can help you' if you tell them you've got xyz. That may be true but it would be naive in the extreme not to acknowledge that equally they could find an excuse to get rid of you and employ someone else!

So when things get tough at work due to your problems dealing with stress, what would you want the employer to do? If they know, they can help, or if they don't help you will have legal protection. If they don't know, they have every right to tell you where to go and recruit someone more suitable.

As mentioned above, your cloak and dagger attitude is a big part of the stigma. If you have mental health problems and you are able to manage them, that is something to be proud of. By continuing to hide, you do yourself and everyone else with mental health problems a massive disservice.

j.e.j.

miduck wrote: »

So when things get tough at work due to your problems dealing with stress, what would you want the employer to do? If they know, they can help, or if they don't help you will have legal protection. If they don't know, they have every right to tell you where to go and recruit someone more suitable.

As mentioned above, your cloak and dagger attitude is a big part of the stigma. If you have mental health problems and you are able to manage them, that is something to be proud of. By continuing to hide, you do yourself and everyone else with mental health problems a massive disservice.

I would not want the employer to do anything. Why? Because the employer is not my doctor, - they are my employer!!

Your use of language is interesting to say the least! If someone went along to your GP surgery and asked to see your medical notes would you accuse the surgery of having a cloak and dagger attitude when they said no those notes are confidential??

No-one and I mean no-one should feel compelled to speak about private medical issues they do not wish to disclose.