New job and depression

BJV

I would tell the truth 100 %.

I employ people and I would sack them on the spot for not telling me. If they are willing to hide something like that what else would they hide? yes you do not have to make a big deal about it. After all it is not a big deal.

A big deal would of been not getting help and doing something silly.

Telling me that an employee had problems which have been dealt with is far better. We have all had problems and think it is normal, natural. It just so happens that yours was not a broken leg it was something else.

Just because it was depression does not mean it can not be treated. It may mean that it will take a little long but so what. People with depression who get treatment can and do live and contribute to the work place and society.

It was depression not hearing voices, violent outbursts or other more harmful forms of illness. Depression affects lots and lots of people.

Depression which you are being treated for! No big deal!

P.s Depression tends to not affect other people instead the person suffering tends to direct the feelings inwards.

scooby088

EastEmerald wrote: »

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 If the offer is withdrawn I will slide back in to depression.

Your doctor has given you a letter which is good to have and give your future employer, if you lie and get found out the offer may be withdrawn and you will have no job at all unless you can you take back your notice from your current employer. Go with honesty always the best policy.

System

teabelly wrote: »

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.

It asks have you ever had a mental illness eg. depression, anxiety etc. So yes it does mention it unfortunately.

If the offer is withdrawn, am I allowed to challenge why?

However, the form says it is for the purpose of making reasonable adjustments. Could I not argue that I ticked 'no' because no adjustments need to be made for my depression, and to be sure I went and got a doctor's letter confirming that no adjustments needed to be made?

Would OH only request medical info if I have been off sick?

System

BJV wrote: »

I would tell the truth 100 %.

I employ people and I would sack them on the spot for not telling me. If they are willing to hide something like that what else would they hide? yes you do not have to make a big deal about it. After all it is not a big deal.

A big deal would of been not getting help and doing something silly.

Telling me that an employee had problems which have been dealt with is far better. We have all had problems and think it is normal, natural. It just so happens that yours was not a broken leg it was something else.

Just because it was depression does not mean it can not be treated. It may mean that it will take a little long but so what. People with depression who get treatment can and do live and contribute to the work place and society.

It was depression not hearing voices, violent outbursts or other more harmful forms of illness. Depression affects lots and lots of people.

Depression which you are being treated for! No big deal!

P.s Depression tends to not affect other people instead the person suffering tends to direct the feelings inwards.

Thanks for your reply, very interesting to read. I don't think all employers are as tolerant and aware of depression as you are.

I understand and completely agree about the fact depression isn't as dangerous as other conditions and can be treated. However there is so much stigma attached and I think alarm bells will be ringing for them.

I know I should be truthful about it, but if the offer is withdrawn I am really in trouble, and my lesson of trying to do the right thing will be a very painful one. With my GP letter I really see no need for them to worry though, and my GP said he'd do anything he could to make sure the offer wasn't withdrawn based on medical grounds. I will always be worrying about being caught out if I lie. I think I should be honest, and if the offer is withdrawn I will never mention it again in the future.

[Deleted User]

I just wanted to say it is a tough one but I think your right with your last sentence and how to look at it OP x

I also had epilepsy during my teen years (lord before the MH issues kicked in) and whilst it is a tough one I wouldn't declare it I look at it that I am legally allowed to drive and have been so long since last seizure, am of the medication that it is a thing of the past, thats the way I look at it, for want of putting it better ONLY declare IF still an issue

Sad to say I once did declare MH and whilst I still got the job I'm sure it was used to the employers advantage if you get me though I can appreciate maybe that was me being paranoid thats why I say it's tough, I'd rather not tell anyone anything medical unless absolutely necessary and it was known or made clear there was a checking process?

Can it be asked what general type of work is it you'll be doing? of course you don't have to answer, please also take some comfort you have your doctors letter and are now in remission as it where, will have my fingers crossed for you x

TrickyWicky

scooby088 wrote: »

Your doctor has given you a letter which is good to have and give your future employer, if you lie and get found out the offer may be withdrawn and you will have no job at all unless you can you take back your notice from your current employer. Go with honesty always the best policy.

I disagree. Honesty is not the best policy. Depression is one of those illnesses that employers don't want to deal with incase the employee becomes 'needy' etc. Then there are all the employer responsibilities that they don't want the hassle of etc.

Sure, if the OP STARTS the job and THEN gets the medical questionaire it's slightly different as they've already taken you on but even then they can make life difficult.

EastEmerald wrote: »

It asks have you ever had a mental illness eg. depression, anxiety etc. So yes it does mention it unfortunately.

Deny everything. There is nothing wrong with you and there hasn't been in the past either. IF they ever then find out about it and try to get rid of you it becomes discrimination and depression can be classed as a disability in some circumstances putting the employer in an even weaker position.

EastEmerald wrote: »

If the offer is withdrawn, am I allowed to challenge why?

Yes but it doesn't mean they'll be honest with you. You'll then be jobless and they won't give a damn as long as they dodged the bullet but you'll be suffering for it.

EastEmerald wrote: »

However, the form says it is for the purpose of making reasonable adjustments.

On paper that all looks very impressive doesn't it. So does every load of cobblers that the government say too yet we both know that what is said / written to sound good isn't always 'good'.

Adjustments could mean anything.. from adjusting their offer of employment to nothing to fitting an expensive stair lift. These days in recession, employers don't like spending money or taking on 'liabilities'. It's your choice but I've dodged this question many times.

EastEmerald wrote: »

I understand and completely agree about the fact depression isn't as dangerous as other conditions

On the contrary, what happens if an employee suddenly decides to jump off the company roof and kill themselves? Company gets shutdown for a week while the police investigate etc, company looses loads of money... It's egg shell territory for many companies and they simply don't want to know.

EastEmerald wrote: »

I know I should be truthful about it, but if the offer is withdrawn I am really in trouble, and my lesson of trying to do the right thing will be a very painful one. With my GP letter I really see no need for them to worry though, and my GP said he'd do anything he could to make sure the offer wasn't withdrawn based on medical grounds. I will always be worrying about being caught out if I lie. I think I should be honest, and if the offer is withdrawn I will never mention it again in the future.

It's up to you but they cannot find out about your medical records without your consent and even then, you can screen what the GP writes.

Let me tell you something.. I didn't mention my depression on one medical / application and a year or two later I crumbled due to bad things at work. I ended up getting signed off, went back, crumbled again... Boss ended up having me in a side room asking me directly if I had suffered with depression before. I nodded my head (with tears runing down my face and my head in my arms) saying yes. It then all went through occupational therapy. Now things there can become a bit hairy purely because they can request your medical history from the GP. Off to see the GP again who still filtered the truth for me. The employer doesn't have a legal right to all of your medical history but the GP DOES have a legal duty of care to look after the best interests of the patient. Anyway off his report went to OH who then called me in for a chat, i told them how things at work were, they read through the GP supplied stuff and basically wrote back to my employer saying the same thing - nothing new, nothing exagerated, nothing bad. Just that I'd suffered with it before, had problems with x,y,z at work and that was it. Admittedly work did become difficult about having me back but a few begging emails saying I was desperate to go back to work and they couldn't refuse me - if they sacked me they were done for.

Was I proud of it? No but it was survival.

TrickyWicky

nonnatus wrote: »

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.

Agreed.

BJV wrote: »

I would tell the truth 100 %.

I employ people and I would sack them on the spot for not telling me. If they are willing to hide something like that what else would they hide? yes you do not have to make a big deal about it. After all it is not a big deal.

See, typical employer. I'd fire you for not telling me but it's not a big deal. This is how employers these days work - they want it all their way.

Diahorrea isn't a big deal but you wouldn't expect that to be declared would you? So why is depression any different? - you say it's not a big deal yet you'd fire someone for not telling you? Do me a favour and stop employing people. Employers like you are whats forcing the rest of us into a corner in the first place.

The rest of your post makes you sound like a kind caring employer but the fact that your second sentence said you'd fire someone on the spot only goes to prove that you're trigger happy - fire first, care later type. My last boss was like that, always looking for reasons to have a go at someone or get them in the **** and yet at meetings with other managers he was a charmer and a real professional. He eventually got the shove.

TrickyWicky

It seems the MSe forums only let you muliquote 3 replies at a time so I've ended up replying in reverse order lol.. getting there now though!

EastEmerald wrote: »

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?

Yes my GP did omit several things for me. IIRC, he completely omitted stress but told them a limited truth about my depression. As for what the employer asked, it was mainly the depression they wanted to know about. I did see my GP though about other things that I didn't want them to know about and those were then left out of his reply.

EastEmerald wrote: »

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.

Some people cope with it better by getting on with it. I don't. I mentally shut down and fail to cope with anything and ended up off sick. I'm not proud of it but i'm also not a machine either - i am human, i have feelings and i am not ashamed of that.

EastEmerald wrote: »

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.

So you have to put your BEST foot forward - not give them a reason / doubts as to why they should reconsider or just not employ you.

EastEmerald wrote: »

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!

Never heard of OH doing this randomly - not once. I can tell you've never really had to worry about OH in the past so here's a breif explanation. OH get involved at the employers request when there is either repeated or long term sickness or both. It's the employers way of independantly finding out whats wrong with you and getting it in writing so that they can decide how to move forwards and look at their own legal standing. They don't just get randomly involved, most companies have some sort of sick scoring system that will trigger it. Some don't. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

One thing I will say though is always keep your internet activity, usernames etc quiet from work. Managers love a good snoop and if they see you on facebook, MSE, twitter etc talking about depression or other stuff they won't like thats the first way for them to get rid of you. It doesn't matter that they're unlawfully spying / harassing you, they'll just claim it's evidence blah, blah. If you want to use the internet at work in your lunch, get a small notebook and 3G connection and use your own hardware / connection (and make sure the computer is password protected). That way they've no business monitoring you.

jacques_chirac

EastEmerald wrote: »

Thanks for your reply, very interesting to read. I don't think all employers are as tolerant and aware of depression as you are.

I understand and completely agree about the fact depression isn't as dangerous as other conditions and can be treated. However there is so much stigma attached and I think alarm bells will be ringing for them.

I know I should be truthful about it, but if the offer is withdrawn I am really in trouble, and my lesson of trying to do the right thing will be a very painful one. With my GP letter I really see no need for them to worry though, and my GP said he'd do anything he could to make sure the offer wasn't withdrawn based on medical grounds. I will always be worrying about being caught out if I lie. I think I should be honest, and if the offer is withdrawn I will never mention it again in the future.

I would be honest. You come across as an honest and positive person, and if that can come through on an internet forum I am sure it will to the recruiters. I would rather have you as an employee than a grumpy liar with no apparent history of MH problems!

Yes, some employers are weary of mental health issues, but I do think your positive outlook can overcome any worries they have. That is what differentiates you from (some) others with mental health problems - you are a glass half full type, and that has to be an attractive quality in an employee

Takeaway_Addict

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Agreed.



See, typical employer. I'd fire you for not telling me but it's not a big deal. This is how employers these days work - they want it all their way.

Diahorrea isn't a big deal but you wouldn't expect that to be declared would you? So why is depression any different? - you say it's not a big deal yet you'd fire someone for not telling you? Do me a favour and stop employing people. Employers like you are whats forcing the rest of us into a corner in the first place.

Nothing wrong with being typical in this situation, if you have lied to the employer then the employer is quite rightly not going to trust you for other things.

And you know depression often comes under the equality act, I am yet to hear of a case of diarrhea being covered. The employer has responsibilities under the first, not the latter

Trust broken, relationship gone, quite right to fire.