New job and depression

Legacy_user

Hello,

I have a question about a job I've been offered. A bit of background: I was messed around in a previous job offer where after 2 months of form filling and DBS clearance, the offer was withdrawn when I failed the health interview due to having back surgery 2 years ago, and the job being more physical than the job advert stated (it was a support worker role).

I had already given in notice to one of my 2 jobs (I have 2 part time jobs) at this point, so I have been struggling on a very low income for the last few months looking for work.

I have at last secured a fantastic job (conditional job offer), and I am in the form filling process. I was told to hand my notice in and am awaiting a call back about a start date. One of the forms is a health one, and it asks about any mental illness. I have been on antidepressants since feb this year due to an extremely low point in my life. I am so worried about the job being withdrawn if I am honest about this, particularly as I now have no jobs to fall back on. I also know if I lie about it then I could be dismissed if they later find out. I never took time off work when I was going through my dark phase, and it was a specific thing which caused it.

Would would you do in my situation? I can't afford to have the job withdrawn on grounds of depression. I am still taking the antidepressants.

Thank you for any help offered.

FBaby

I would be honest about the dark time, being prescribed some anti-depressant and still being on it, but looking at going off them with the help of your GP as what caused the depression is now not an issue. I would highlight thought that despite being on anti-depressant, you haven't taken one day off and show the evidence. I would add that you would be happy to discuss it if required.

I know it is a frightening prospect to be honest, but as you said, if you don't say anything and then they find out, it could be instant dismissal and that would be even worse.

System

Thanks for your reply. I have given it some thought and decided honesty is the best policy, and written what you mentioned about no absence and being happy to discuss it.


Are they allowed to withdraw the offer based on my depression?

TrickyWicky

EastEmerald wrote: »

Would would you do in my situation? I can't afford to have the job withdrawn on grounds of depression.

Keep damned quiet about it! Thats what I'd do and have done several times. IF you ever reach a point where you have to get signed off for depression, you can see any medical report your doctor sends to your employer before it is sent. I was utterly frank with my GP and said to him "Doc, they don't know I've had depression in the past as I never declared it on the medical questionaire". As a medical professional he had to look after my interests and edited out the depressive history from his letter.

Sounds like cheating but these days it's dog eat dog. The government are all for the politically correct everyone plays fairly crap but in real life it doesn't happen. You have to look after #1 because nobody else will.

FBaby wrote: »

I would be honest about the dark time

On the contrary, the few times I have been honest about it I've been made to go through hell for it to the point where I've been bullied out of the door for it.

Depression in the world of employment is the new plague. If you suffer from it the employer wants to terminate you.

EastEmerald wrote: »

Are they allowed to withdraw the offer based on my depression?

No not legally but again thats the governments idealism in play. In the real world they can withdraw it unofficially for that reason but officially they'll concoct some excuse and you won't be able to prove anything to the contrary.

Remember if you ever end up having them contact your GP, you can screen what your GP tells them before it goes to them and have your GP filter out inconvenient truths.

FBaby

I would tend to agree about keeping quiet IF times off had been taken. After all, that's what they will care about. The fact that she had depression yet managed to stay at work to me show that she is a very dedicated and reliable worker. Add honestly to it and to me, that's makes her even more employable. That certainly how I would sell it to the employer any way. If despite this they were prepared to retract the offer, well, despite the outcome of unemployment, I am not sure I would want to work for such a company.

System

Thanks both for your posts.

TrickyWicky, your doctor actually omitted the depression history for you? Did your employer write to them asking for a general medical record or did they specifically ask about depression?

I have just made a Dr appointment now to discuss it with my them. I really don't want to lie, but it really did not affect my work; I was a Support Worker and did not want to let the person I supported down by being off sick, so I just got on with it. I put them first, and it was also a welcome distraction from sitting at home being depressed.

FBaby I agree about not wanting to work for such an organisation who'd do that, but on the other hand if the job offer is withdrawn (and this would be the only reason as my references will be fine and I have no other medical issues), I have nothing to fall back on and I won't be able to claim JSA due to me voluntarily handing in my notice for my other job.

Also, would Occupational Health only write to my GP if I had sickness at work? Or do they do it randomly? Because if it is the former, I never have days off sick, and because this job means so much to me I will certainly not jeopardise it with sickness unless I am physically unable to move!

scooby088

OP please don't hand in your notice until the offer is made unconditional and you have a start date.

System

scooby088 wrote: »

OP please don't hand in your notice until the offer is made unconditional and you have a start date.

I know, but the interviewer who called me and offered me the job asked how long my notice was. I said 4 weeks, she said 'so the end of October start then, that's OK, hand your notice in tomorrow.' And as I didn't want to delay the start date she had said, I gave in my notice.

I haven't officially been given a start date- that'll happen once background checks are complete.

nonnatus

Gosh, I would also agree with Tricky Wicky! Edit your history carefully! No, they are not allowed to rule you out due to a history of depression, but they will do it anyway, and blame it on someone else. Depression goes hand in hand with recurrent time off work, poor behaviour and an employer may worry about your mood "spreading" to your colleagues, or making the place "uncomfortable" or worry about offending you. Can of worms if you ask me.
Talk to your GP and they will be very helpful. It's in their interest to get you back to work, functioning etc, which in turn will help with the depression.

Honesty may be the best policy, but your dishonesty isn't hurting anyone but you...

System

Thanks for your reply.

My doctor said it'd be unjust if I was denied the job, but understood my concerns.
He dictated me a letter saying I had one depressive episode due to a specific life event, and have since made a full recovery and no longer take medication (I've decided to come off them). He also said I had no time off work for it and I am able to function fully, and am fit for the job.

My friend thinks I should lie anyway and keep the letter as a back up, saying I didn't see the relevance in mentioning it as it isn't a problem anymore.

The replies on this thread have made me think I should definitely not be honest. If the offer is withdrawn I will slide back in to depression.

teabelly

It depends on the exact wording. Does it specifically mention depression? So many people take anti depressants it's hardly even a mental illness any more, it's a normal fact of life that many people suffer from periodically.

Unless it specifically mentions depression don't mention it at all. If it does come out in the wash you say you thought mental health issues was something serious you'd be locked away for not having anti depressants... you thought it too trivial to even bring up.