Sickness record

JReacher1

sangie595 wrote: »

Of course you do. And you personally read all 360,000 references. So what about the references of the other 32.39 million people in work? You read all their references too?

This no longer has anything to do with the OPs question. The question was, when someone applies for a new job, can the potential employer ask for their sickness record? The answer is yes. Full stop. It is irrelevant what a spurious recruitment agency might do or see - all that matters is can this information be asked for/ provided, because that is what was asked. And the answer is yes.

Which is exactly what I posted in the first response to the OP :wall::wall:

FBaby

I don't really see the point of asking about sickness absence as part of a reference. Any company will protect themselves better by asking an occupational health questionnaire and not making any unconditional offer until they are satisfied with what is recorded there.

If someone has off sick for some time, it is likely that there suffer from a condition that would need to be reported on the questionnaire. Not answering the form truthfully would be enough of a reason to dismiss someone anyway. Much easier surely.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

stclair wrote: »

An employment law solicitor maybe.

http://www.landaulaw.co.uk/references/

Does your employer have to give you a reference?

If you want to leave your job youll probably want a reference. It is good practice for your employer to provide a reference, but they are not legally obliged to do so -except in some regulated industries like financial services.

Assuming you do get a reference, what will be in it?

Almost 75% of references these days are factual - namely your name, dates of employment, and job title. Sometimes, the reason for dismissal is included.

The sickness record is factual. it's a number.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

FBaby wrote: »

I don't really see the point of asking about sickness absence as part of a reference. Any company will protect themselves better by asking an occupational health questionnaire and not making any unconditional offer until they are satisfied with what is recorded there.

If someone has off sick for some time, it is likely that there suffer from a condition that would need to be reported on the questionnaire. Not answering the form truthfully would be enough of a reason to dismiss someone anyway. Much easier surely.

Health questionnaires won't flag up people who took 10 days off last year with sudden colds on a Monday morning.

tazwhoever

What at about people who were resigned due to ill health and have taken few years off. Surely this goes against the applicant and tells the truth!

FBaby

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

Health questionnaires won't flag up people who took 10 days off last year with sudden colds on a Monday morning.

No indeed but a good interviewer should be able to pick up on lack of dedication to work and/or bullsh****.

There is never any guarantees anyway. Anyone can have a perfect sickness record and then have a bad accident days after starting the job.

TELLIT01

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

The sickness record is factual. it's a number.

True, but many employers will only provide start date, end date, job title and nothing more.

stclair

nicechap wrote: »

What does your company's reference request letter ask for?

If they do not ask for sickness record, why would you see it the references provided?

We ask for sickness details but its rarely provided.

So for example today I have seen a references from Virgin Trains West Coast, centrica and Lambeth Council and they never provided sickness information on request they all used disclaimers for not disclosing the information and only provided the basics.

stclair

sangie595 wrote: »

Of course you do. And you personally read all 360,000 references. So what about the references of the other 32.39 million people in work? You read all their references too?

This no longer has anything to do with the OPs question. The question was, when someone applies for a new job, can the potential employer ask for their sickness record? The answer is yes. Full stop. It is irrelevant what a spurious recruitment agency might do or see - all that matters is can this information be asked for/ provided, because that is what was asked. And the answer is yes.

The answer is then his/her employer be asked for it but the information may not be disclosed as they may only provide a basic reference like most companies do now a days.

nicechap

stclair wrote: »

We ask for sickness details but its rarely provided.

So for example today I have seen a references from Virgin Trains West Coast, centrica and Lambeth Council and they never provided sickness information on request they all used disclaimers for not disclosing the information and only provided the basics.

Thank you, that answers the OP's question.

So much better for the OP to have a factual answer rather than opinion.