Job offer with poor sickness record.

Cufcmono23

Hi all I have been in a job I hate for the last 14 years and spent the last 3 years trying to find other employment.
I have finally been offered and apprenticeship at the old age of 32 and although it's a pay cut to begin with I couldn't be happier.
The only problem is that it's a conditional offer subject to references, CRB and a medical questionnaire.
I returned all the paperwork and references and CRB will be fine however on the medical questionnaire I was asked to declare if I had taken more than 10 days off in the last year.
I was honest and said I had a 5 week period absent from work while undergoing treatment for depression and am on my medication.
The company phoned and asked for permission to speak to my gp about this incident and of course I said yes but now I am worrying myself sick that the job offer will be withdrawn.
Has anyone been in a similar situation or any advice at all would be much appreciated.

[Deleted User]

You need to reverse your worry.

If the company need to investigate, perhaps it say's more about them?
Do they experience similar situations?

I know in my current role I was given all the jazz of a "strong and happy team here" when really everyone back stabs and it's soooo clicky/micro managed. We apparently have someone working a month's notice to join us and I really can't imagine on a zero-hours basis but ...I'll try

Good luck with keeping strong through all the problems a pay cut can bring.

Ja7188

I was honest and said I had a 5 week period absent from work while undergoing treatment for depression and am on my medication.

Personally I'm not sure I'd see this as a 'poor sickness record' on its own - have you had just this one period off or have there been similar periods of absence in preceding years?

Cufcmono23

I have had periods of absence over the years but due to the fact I work in a food factory any kind of sickness and you are automatically not allowed on site until you are better and any skin infection etc is the same policy so I could easily explain any previous absence of asked.
My worry is that it was only in June of this year when I was off for depression which was caused by feeling trapped in my current job.
It's my only ever bout of depression on record and I did attend counseling but discharged myself as I felt I recovered quite fast and have been fine since and getting out of my current job would do me the world of good.

elsien

It's not a deal breaker. It may be that because it's so recent they want to get more of a picture to decide whether they need an occupational health assessment as part of the recruitment process. Have you requested to see the GP letter so you are clear on what it says?

Cufcmono23

I haven't had the consent form yet. They left a voicemail yesterday and asked if I would be willing to let them speak to my gp. I said yes and they said they would email a form over yesterday afternoon but it never came.
I will have to phone back on Monday and see what is going on.
Is it a good idea to request to see the Letter?

elsien

They tend to want to find out whether the illness constitutes a disability;
will it impact the ability to perform a defined role; if reasonable adjustments at work need to be made.

You can ask to see the report first if you want to, to check it for accuracy.

Cufcmono23

I will ask to see the report then. I did mention to my gp at the time that it was the nature of the work that was a contributing factor. It's a factory job and after 14 years of doing exactly the same thing day in day out it finally wore me down hence the need to move into a completely different career.
I guess all I can do is hope they are sympathetic to my situation and can see it won't have an impact on my role with my new employer.

shortcrust

There’s so frequently something like this in the run up to people changing careers that I doubt they'll be particularly shocked. People don’t make big changes because everything’s going great, and they'll have known that already.

Good luck, hope it works out.

Cufcmono23

Just a quick update. I have received a copy of the form to give to my GP and it seems they aren't interested in the least in how many sick days I have had and are just trying to find out if I am fit for work.
I am still slightly worried about them viewing my psychiatric notes but definitely feeling more positive than before.
Thanks for the support everyone