Lied about medical conditions on my employment form

sangie595

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

Probably not for a standard office type job though. I've never seen a form that asks for a lot of detail. Maybe because I've never had the type of job that needs to ask.



I do agree that one should answer honestly or decline to answer. Lying is never good even if the lie causes no harm directly, it damages the relationship.

I'm not sure what a "standard office type job" is! Most employers I know ask for medical declarations for all jobs, with specific additions for certain roles. That includes "standard office type jobs".

It should be remembered that the OP keeps saying they weren't asked at interview. Actually it is illegal to ask before an offer is made. Many employers do break the law on this one. So we have an employer who didn't break the law, and who got lied to anyway.

From an employers perspective, I didn't mention this before, but earlier this year I took on an employee for a "standard office type job". We're a very, very flexible employer and renowned for our good practice as employers. She didn't declare any health conditions or disabilities. I know because I have a copy of her OH report, which is standard for all new recruits - OH check and if there is anything that worries them, they get the person in and do an assessment so that we can adapt the workplace or the job role to support that person.

Less than three months later I am getting "concerns" from other staff. She's never in the office (we have very generous working from home arrangements) and that's causing issues in the team. I speak to her, and it turns out that she has multiple health problems which she had not declared. As a result she is struggling in the workplace because she is in pain.

Now, on the face of it, I immediately ordered a full assessment and made adjustments to the workplace. That wasn't an issue. It would never have been an issue. But now I don't trust her! And worse, neither do her colleagues. For different reasons. I don't trust her because she had knowingly withheld information which put me and my organisation at risk, and which put her at risk; because she abused our trust; and because she thought that being the job was more important than being able to do the job (and unfortunately that may now be in question as there are things that are essential to the job that we are now not convinced she can do). Obviously, her colleagues don't know any of this, although none of them are idiots, so they'll be assuming things from changes that are being made. But from their point of view she's exploited flexible policies for her own benefit; dumped a whole load of the rubbish office stuff on them because she's never there; and because she has hardly been in she hasn't formed any relationships with her colleagues.

But the bottom line of this story is that she used up her nine lives all in one go by lying to us. That is the elephant in the corner of the room every time now. Anything she says becomes the subject of suspicion and needs took be checked - and that is not the way that we like working! So now, she's very unlikely to get the benefit of the doubt if there are issues around her performance of the job. Or anything else. Regrettable, because we prefer to err on the side of supporting employees and being a great employer to work for. But once bitten..... Thankfully, this situation, however it turns out, won't influence our response to employing people with health conditions. But for many employers, it would.

surreysaver

How would your employer find out you've lied, unless you told them you lied? If the form isn't seen by qualified and regulated healthcare professionals, then they are not going to be writing to your doctor. And if they did write to your doctor, your doctor isn't going to write back to someone who isn't a regulated and qualified healthcare professional.

sangie595

surreysaver wrote: »

How would your employer find out you've lied, unless you told them you lied? If the form isn't seen by qualified and regulated healthcare professionals, then they are not going to be writing to your doctor. And if they did write to your doctor, your doctor isn't going to write back to someone who isn't a regulated and qualified healthcare professional.

They will find out when the OP attempts to claim that their disabilities entitle them to not be sacked!

surreysaver

sangie595 wrote: »

They will find out when the OP attempts to claim that their disabilities entitle them to not be sacked!

Well, reading the first post, I was under the impression that their disabilities wouldn't affect their work. Funny how things might suddenly change on the eve of their second anniversary with their employer.

sangie595

surreysaver wrote: »

Well, reading the first post, I was under the impression that their disabilities wouldn't affect their work. Funny how things might suddenly change on the eve of their second anniversary with their employer.

If that was the case then I doubt they'd have asked, or then talked about how they can't be sacked because they have a disability. The problem is that disability may not affect your work all the time, but it's the point at which it does when you have to admit you lied. The OP claims to have SAD and sleep disorders, for example. And to have been in the job for a few months. It's September. Noticed how the nights are drawing in and the weather changing? I seriously hope they can get up for work, because I am always late on account of SAD and sleep disorders that I didn't declare will go down like a lead balloon. And will probably be met with a P45.

Sncjw

If you had put it down they could have supported you if you needed time off or help from occupational health.

It wouldn’t be discrimination as they wouldn’t have know anything that would discrimate you. They would treat you like a normal person who didn’t provide them with the information they asked for.

I have a disability and always say I do so I can get support and such like. If I need time off for hospital appointments related to my disability I get them a lot of the time. They could have helped you.

Tell them now so they are aware of it. They will probably send you to occupational health if you have an understanding employer. They will see what support can be offered for you if needed.

Me2you

Guys and girls.... you are all forgetting I’ve been working for 30 years with my health complaints, perfectly fine.

Me2you

@Sncjw I really don’t want to talk about my health issues with anyone apart from my GP and only my employer when it causes a concern with work.

It’s actually stressful not knowing when I’ll get an email or contact about my illness. I would rather tell my employee when it happens, if it happens.