Employment health questionnaire advice??

GingerLs

My partner has his dream job offer and has received a log in to complete an online pre-employment health questionnaire. No major issues with his health but he is considered obese in accordance with the BMI scale. 

The job is manual however he is very able to carry out the duties and has always been this size when working in the same industry. 

If they are happy with the questionnaire answers they will leave it at that I believe. He is tempted to put his weight as abit lower incase he loses his job offer because of this. He is working out and eating healthy and has already lost 2 stone so will be this weight before long anyway - is it a bad idea ?

Thanks 

MalMonroe

My best advice - don't lie.  He could explain, if he is asked and if there is room on the online questionnaire, about his efforts to lose weight and become fit (congratulations to him on that, btw, it's not easy). 

Lying never serves any good purpose and people are always found out. In this case, it could affect your partner's future employment, too, if references are ever requested.

Just my own opinion of course but honesty is always the best policy.

Marcon

GingerLs said:

My partner has his dream job offer and has received a log in to complete an online pre-employment health questionnaire. No major issues with his health but he is considered obese in accordance with the BMI scale. 

The job is manual however he is very able to carry out the duties and has always been this size when working in the same industry. 

If they are happy with the questionnaire answers they will leave it at that I believe. 

And you know that how....?

GingerLs said:

If they are happy with the questionnaire answers they will leave it at that I believe. He is tempted to put his weight as abit lower incase he loses his job offer because of this. 

A straw poll of strangers on whether or not it's a good idea to lie... If he's obese it'll be obvious from looking at him, so sticking to the truth (and the diet!) is a much better idea. Far more likely that if there's a concern about his weight, and he's the best candidate for the job (or he wouldn't have been offered it), the company might offer some sort of support to lose weight.

GingerLs said:

He is working out and eating healthy and has already lost 2 stone so will be this weight before long anyway - is it a bad idea ?

He didn't become obese overnight and he won't lose all his excess weight overnight. Suggesting 'he'll be this weight before long anyway' assumes that this time he'll be able to stick to eating healthily etc. Statistics are against him on this one. Hopefully he'll prove them wrong, but it'll add another layer of stress to his life, which far from motivating him could have the reverse effect.

Grumpy_chap

GingerLs said:

He is tempted to put his weight as abit lower incase he loses his job offer because of this.  is it a bad idea ?

Yes, it is a bad idea to lie on the health form or any other form related to work.

They will have seen at the interview what his figure was, and still offered the job.

It is manual work and you say he was able to do the type of work before.  So there will be references from past employers that demonstrate his capability to do the work.