Can prospective employer withdraw a conditional offer due to my current sickness record?

vincent.lee

Hello.

I was off for 5 months in 2016 due to stress from personal issues.
I have also been off multiple time (4 or 5 times) for one week periods from around November 2017 to march 2018.

I now have a conditional offer, subject to employment checks.

If they come across my sickness absences, are they within their right to withdraw? Can they come across my sickness absences?

I am a firefighter, andhave been offered a train driver role.

FBaby

Sadly yes they can, that's why it's a conditional offer at this point.

There is usually quite some debate around the issue of companies requesting and companies informing of sickness records. In the public sector at least, it is definitely a standard question on the reference form. If a organisation is to refuse, it would certainly raised questions.

It might not be as standard practice in the private sector.

I do know of one offered that was taken back when it came out that the person had been off for stress for 6 months. They were called for chat and that highlighted that the person's resilience was on the lower spectrum. The job was exceptionally stressful so there was concerns that they wouldn't cope. It wouldn't have done them or the company any good if the job was too much for them.

elsien

Presumably there will be preemployment health screening for a train driver.

Unless you're planning to tell porkies it seems fairly likely that they will come across it and yes the offer can be retracted. 5 weeks in 5 months is a lot.
Is the health issue now resolved and unlikely to recur?

kingfisherblue

A colleague applied for a job in a local school, and the school specifically asked her employer about sickness. The person had been warned about taking several odd days off sick, here and there rather than as a block, but it added up to a reasonable amount of time off sick over the previous twelve months. The conditional offer that she had received was withdrawn by the school.

Masomnia

I wouldn't have thought they would disclose the issue from 2016 as it is quite some time ago.

If you haven't had any absences since March then that stands in your favour. If you are challenged on it you just need to be honest and point out that it was due to a medical issue at the time that has been resolved (if that's true of course) and that you've had no absence since.

Hopefully it won't be an issue. Good luck anyway.

Undervalued

vincent.lee wrote: »

Hello.

I was off for 5 months in 2016 due to stress from personal issues.
I have also been off multiple time (4 or 5 times) for one week periods from around November 2017 to march 2018.

I now have a conditional offer, subject to employment checks.

If they come across my sickness absences, are they within their right to withdraw? Can they come across my sickness absences?

I am a firefighter, andhave been offered a train driver role.

The short answer is yes. That is not to say that they will.

However I would assume (and hope!) there are specific medical requirements for train driving and that their medical assessment will require access to your medical records.

What you describe would certainly be looked at very closely if you were intending to become a pilot and it is hard to see why train driving should be much different. That is not to say it would be impossible but it would be subject to detailed assessment.

sangie595

Actually, my friend's husband is a train driver. Yes, they will ask. They must ask. You do not put a large number of lives in the hands of people you haven't medically screened. I'm surprised they haven't already asked.

System

vincent.lee wrote: »

Hello.

I was off for 5 months in 2016 due to stress from personal issues.
I have also been off multiple time (4 or 5 times) for one week periods from around November 2017 to march 2018.

I'd be sacked for that sickness record ! 4 - 5 weeks off in six months ! Wow - I need a job as a firefighter !!

maisie_cat

Sangie is right, My husband is a train driver and they are extremely tight on health issues and he gets anxious as it is easy to lose your job for health reasons. Do not underestimate how stressful driving a train can be, despite what people think. The shifts are extremely tiring as they are all over the place not 4 on 4 off.

stator

Does "Train Driver Role" mean something different in firefighting?

sangie595

andydownes123 wrote: »

I'd be sacked for that sickness record ! 4 - 5 weeks off in six months ! Wow - I need a job as a firefighter !!

Maybe you would. But you have no idea why the OP was off. And if you think firefighters have an easy life, then you aren't the type they (or the public) need. If you are willing to risk your life for the life of others, then you'd be ideal. But you don't sound that type.