Can an employer ask about health problems?

afm_2

Hi!
A friend of mine is looking for a job and got an interview. He was given a questionnaire to fill in and take to the interview. In this questionnaire he is asked about any health problems and days that he missed work due to health issues. I thought this was not allowed? Does anyone know if that's the case? He doesn't have any health problems but I find this strange...
Also, can employers ask women if they are planning on having babies? If you know any website with current info about this stuff, please let me know.
Thank you!

McKneff

No it isn't illegal to ask about health problems.

My employers were concrete product manufacturers, they couldn't possibly take on someone who had asthma or that sort of thing. For the employees sake. They did it once when the employee failed to mention it, and he was off work for 6 weeks with major breathing problems.

afm_2

Thanks for your reply. I think you can ask if there's a problem that won't let you do the work involved for the position that you are applying for but that nothing else can be asked. So when they ask about any health problems that made you miss work, that is not about the position itself, right?

heart_free

Employers can ask about plans for having Holden, but they MUST ask BOTh men and women - not just women. They also can't use the information in a discriminatory fashion. For this reason most employers steer well clear.

I have health issues - long term but controlled with medication. I am always up front with employers and ask at interview about company policy regarding medical appointments etc. again employers cannot discriminate by using this information. That way everyone is aware of the intubation before any issues wise.

InsideInsurance

afm wrote: »

Also, can employers ask

Legally, contrary to popular belief, there is very little that companies cannot ask at interview.

What companies cannot do however is discriminate based on a whole host of issues (race, gender, disability etc) and therefore if a question can serve no purposes other than to discriminate then by asking it you add no value to the interview process and open yourself up to claims of discrimination and so it simply isnt worth asking, in most cases.

afm_2

Thank you all! I guess that when they ask something like general health problem and about pregnancies, it is because they will use that in their decision. Otherwise, why ask? It's strange that there's no legislation to stop that. I was under the impression that there was.

AP007

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Legally, contrary to popular belief, there is very little that companies cannot ask at interview.

What companies cannot do however is discriminate based on a whole host of issues (race, gender, disability etc) and therefore if a question can serve no purposes other than to discriminate then by asking it you add no value to the interview process and open yourself up to claims of discrimination and so it simply isnt worth asking, in most cases.

I have been asked

Do you have a boyfriend
Do you plan to have a baby at all

etc

Takeaway_Addict

AP007 wrote: »

I have been asked

Do you have a boyfriend
Do you plan to have a baby at all

etc

For some reason I always presumed you were male...

Daedalus

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

For some reason I always presumed you were male...

They still maybe..

LittleVoice

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Legally, contrary to popular belief, there is very little that companies cannot ask at interview.

What companies cannot do however is discriminate based on a whole host of issues (race, gender, disability etc) and therefore if a question can serve no purposes other than to discriminate then by asking it you add no value to the interview process and open yourself up to claims of discrimination and so it simply isnt worth asking, in most cases.

Contrary your your belief, it is actually against the law - with a few specific exceptions - to ask about health and disability during the recruitment process before a job offer is made (or successful applicants are placed in a pool from which they will be appointed as jobs become available).

The law is the Equality Act 2010.

AP007

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

For some reason I always presumed you were male...

Really? Oh not sure that's good or bad