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Employer and degrees of heath privacy
Tue, 09/04/2018 - 00:20I am starting a new job and it is one that I am so excited about starting. I was emailed a very detailed questionnaire about my state of health and past health problems. I am being asked to list my medications and dosages! I haven't had a seizure in 10 years and my doctor is fine with me driving. I do deal with insomnia and anxiety and have occcasional memory trouble, but the migraines have stopped! I am more than well suited for this job and have the needed experience and can work the required shifts. If they demand a checkup/note from my neuro, this could be a problem. I am a medical assistant and this is the first time I have been asked about my health, much less such detail. My current neuro is the one who finally got me stabilized 10 years ago. We don't always agree on my status and future treatment, but we have been able to work together and I am doing fine. At this moment, I am having an panic attack because I am so nervous at the thought of not be able to land this job that provides insurance, reasonable pay, and is not difficult for me to travel to. I was passed up for a job 20 years ago, because of a health check during the hiring process. I thought this was illegal, but I will not be considered if I do not complete this "assessment." Any advice or practical information is most welcome as this has really upset me.
Comments
You don't have to tell them
Submitted by Autotech2340 on Tue, 2018-10-23 - 19:16
You don't have to tell them anything at all, unless you already let it slip
If your seizures won't stop
Submitted by Believer_59cd4d81a99cf on Wed, 2018-09-05 - 23:58
If your seizures won't stop you from doing your job--and if they've been controlled for ten years, they won't--there is no correct or legal way for that to prevent you getting a job you are qualified for. In terms of the legality of even asking, lemme just copy-past this from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: "Pre-Employment Inquiries and Medical Questions & Examinations:The ADA places restrictions on employers when it comes to asking job applicants to answer medical questions, take a medical exam, or identify a disability.An employer may not ask a job applicant, for example, if he or she has a disability (or about the nature of an obvious disability). An employer also may not ask a job applicant to answer medical questions or take a medical exam before making a job offer.An employer may ask a job applicant whether they can perform the job and how they would perform the job. The law allows an employer to condition a job offer on the applicant answering certain medical questions or successfully passing a medical exam, but only if all new employees in the same job have to answer the questions or take the exam.Once a person is hired and has started work, an employer generally can only ask medical questions or require a medical exam if the employer needs medical documentation to support an employee’s request for an accommodation or if the employer has reason to believe an employee would not be able to perform a job successfully or safely because of a medical condition.The law also requires that the employers keep all medical records and information confidential and in separate medical files."