Pre-Employment Medical Questionnaire

Ineedthisjob

Hi all

So I’ve been offered a fantastic new job, and a great salary. I got my offer today and they sent a medical questionnaire. On there they asked how many sick days I had and how many instances

Now I suffer from migraines and I’ve had a lot of stress in my current job so i have like 15.5 sick days over 12 months with many instances. This isn’t classed as a disability so I’m VERY concerned my job offer will be withdrawn

Is there anything I can do. I can’t lie but can I not explain that I have this issue and I’m going to a doctor for it? Or will that make it worse

I can’t imagine having to stay at my current workplace after seeing this place. I was so excited about starting

Any advice at all?

One positive is that my old supervisor works there now so they have someone that knows me vouching for me and despite my sick days my current manager will also give me a stellar reference

lisyloo

Why do you think chronic migraines are a disability? Has something or someone given you information on this?

Have you discussed treatment options with your doctor?
I had preventatives that were effective for a while.
Have you worked out the cause? Stress?

One factor for me I believe was hormones and in women it can be linked to a drop in oestrogen (monthly). Fortunately for me my migraines have improved since going onto HRT. Obviously that’s only relevant if you’re female.

What has your doctor said or done so Far?

If I was an employer I’d like to see evidence of you trying to do something about it (not saying you aren’t it’s just not obvious).

Brynsam

lisyloo wrote: »

Why do you think chronic migraines are a disability?

Read OP's post again - clearly says they are aware is it NOT a disability.

OP - that's a lot of sick leave as you are well aware. I wonder why you've done nothing about it until now, assuming that 'going to a doctor' means 'I will be....' rather than 'I am currently seeing..."? If your migraines are stress related (?are they), there are many techniques which can help, as well as medication.

You need to give your employer some reassurance that you are taking active steps to improve your own health, whether that is relaxation classes, medical intervention or whatever. It needs to be constructive and positive, not just "it'll be better now I'm in a different job". This is particularly true if If the job you hope to go to is likely to be stressful, otherwise you may be a risk they aren't willing to take.

Ineedthisjob

Hi. I have already been to the doctor once in August but they haven’t offered me much assistance in this case. They suggested I do some lifestyle changes

Also my current job doesn’t allow for me to nip out and have a few sips of water here and there which is what I believe to be a big contributor. I currently work in Pharma

So I should declare my headaches ? I think the best thing I can do is be honest and say I’m speaking to the doctor, Im taking advice and have changed lifestyle. I’m still fit to do the job and would still like to be given the opportunity to prove myself

I just don’t know if I should wait for them to contact me or do it now

Blatchford

You tell them now. Don't delay it. Explain exactly what had happened. If you have previous years with little or no sickness, explain that too. I would caution against staying it's stress related to work - that is more likely to case alarm bells. Just say that it's been a tough year ( don't say why, just "stuff") and the doctor isn't concerned and you're now taking medication when you have an attack. Leave it simple, let them full in the blanks if possible. Because everyone has tough years, and it's more likely to get a sympathetic or understanding response.

Silvertabby

My sympathies. Sumatriptan works for me, if I can catch it in time, but I believe they may not be the answer for everyone. Has your Dr considered prescribing them for you?

Ineedthisjob

Blatchford wrote: »

You tell them now. Don't delay it. Explain exactly what had happened. If you have previous years with little or no sickness, explain that too. I would caution against staying it's stress related to work - that is more likely to case alarm bells. Just say that it's been a tough year ( don't say why, just "stuff") and the doctor isn't concerned and you're now taking medication when you have an attack. Leave it simple, let them full in the blanks if possible. Because everyone has tough years, and it's more likely to get a sympathetic or understanding response.

Thank you so much for your helpful response. I have a bit more hope now. This is the only year! My old supervisor works there and will be able to verify my previous years at my old employment have been fine.

I will also mention I have already been to the doctor and can be prescribed medication to help flare ups

Ineedthisjob

Silvertabby wrote: »

My sympathies. Sumatriptan works for me, if I can catch it in time, but I believe they may not be the answer for everyone. Has your Dr considered prescribing them for you?

My next course of action is to go back and ask for something to be prescribed her method clearly isn’t working

Thank you. I think you understand how terrible they can be. I just don’t want to lose a good job over something I can’t control. If I messed around and faked sick days I deserve it but they’re debilitating

TELLIT01

Migraines can be extremely debilitating, but can also be treated and controlled to a degree. If I was the employer I would be more concerned if this was 15 x 1 day absences than if it was fewer but longer. My other question would be "If the migraines have been affecting you for a year, why didn't you seek medical advice before August, and why haven't you already been back if the treatment clearly isn't working?"

Ineedthisjob

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Migraines can be extremely debilitating, but can also be treated and controlled to a degree. If I was the employer I would be more concerned if this was 15 x 1 day absences than if it was fewer but longer. My other question would be "If the migraines have been affecting you for a year, why didn't you seek medical advice before August, and why haven't you already been back if the treatment clearly isn't working?"

For one, I didn’t go because I had other personal issues that I’d rather not disclose on here but can discuss with the future employer

Second I have yet to make another appointment but going back straight away won’t work when the doctor has told me to make lifestyle changes. You need to allow time for that to take affect. Going back now would in my eye be a sufficient time scale to show the doctor I tried their method and it’s not working

However I’ve spoken to my supervisor and told him my worry. He said they’re understanding and I should just be honest with them he had something similar and still got employed. So I think I’m going to back away from this thread as i think it’s giving me more stress than the situation needs

Thank you so much for your advice

Undervalued

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Migraines can be extremely debilitating, but can also be treated and controlled to a degree. If I was the employer I would be more concerned if this was 15 x 1 day absences than if it was fewer but longer. My other question would be "If the migraines have been affecting you for a year, why didn't you seek medical advice before August, and why haven't you already been back if the treatment clearly isn't working?"

Indeed. The OP says "many instances" so I suspect it is nearer to 15 one-day absences. Either way that is a lot of sickness as it is three working weeks.

Most decent employers would be sympathetic to one lengthy sickness absence for a significant problem, particularly if it is not an issue that is very likely to recur. However many / most potential employers will be very wary of what the OP describes.

I appreciate this can be a very debilitating condition, a close friend suffered badly in the same way. However the problem is a potential employer has no way of judging the severity or if they are looking at somebody who will routinely take at least an extra day's leave every month.