To consider not declaring disabilities to new job? Would you?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I've been offered a new job, we're just doing references etc and I'm expecting my contract today. I've been told a health information sheet will come as well, to make sure I'm fit and healthy.

I'm not, really. I've got bipolar depression which is currently under control but I see a psych for every 6 weeks; and I've had a kidney transplant. The latter I tend to disclose as it doesn't require any special treatment but the former I am unsure about - I lost my last job as it flared up and they didn't want someone 'unpredictable' on the team, which has put me off declaring it. I do have an agreed reference with them so they shouldn't mention it.

Would you declare both? Some home working can be really useful in keeping the bipolar under control when it's playing up, so I could ask for that, but I was going to do it a few months down the line...

[brasty]

I would declare kidney, but not bipolar.

[Time4adrink]

Sign your contract and return it.

Then do the health form honestly. If you've been diagnosed bipolar for over a year it's a protected characteristic under disability discrimination act. So they can't withdraw the offer if that's what you are worried about. Working from home occasionally might count as a reasonable adjustment so worth a chat from the start.

Congratulations on your new job. Good luck!

[aprilanne]

the truth you should probably declare it you are more likely to be sacked for being dishonest than being ill .i know people dont like admitting mental illness but its just an illness they can make adjustments if they know .better to be honest and i say this as the wife of a hubby with serious mental health issues .

[SparkleTwinkleGoldGlitter]

I would declare both.

Will you not need time off every 6 weeks to see a psych? And I know you say your bipolar is under control at the moment but that can change and it's easier to explain to work if they are made aware of your condition from the start. Also it's absouletly not something to be ashamed of!

[ColdFeetinWinter]

Depends on employer tbh. My employer would only use medical info to ensure you were safe in your job and never to prevent you taking a job on discrimination grounds.

If they withdrew a job offer they would need to explain why. I'd probably volunteer that info and explain how best you manage it so that you can function at work.

[UserReuser]

Declare. They can't rescind the offer at this point,at worst you'll see occupational health. It gives you far more protection, if you don't you have no such protection plus you have lied on the form which will do you no favours should you have issue. Be factual and brief, bipolar-medicated, stable. No required adjustments. Kidney, medication taken, stable, no required adjustments

[OdinsLoveChild]

If it doesn't affect you performing in your role and you wont need any specific alterations making to accommodate you then I wouldn't necessarily tell them. The downside will be if a medical emergency happens they wont know what medication you are taking which could cause issues or if you decide a few months down the line that the job isn't right for you because theyre not making allowances for your condition and you wish to raise a grievance on that basis.

I have EDS (Ehlers Danlos several types) which has a multitude of problems. I never tell anyone I have it but I am very aware of the fact that I put myself in the position where I have no right to complain about the workplace if its causing me issues that could be sorted if they made allowances.

I'm sure there are also laws that prevent them refusing you a job on the basis that you have a medical condition/disability which would not affect your ability to do the job even with them making alterations to accommodate you.

[UserReuser]

I say that by the way as someone who has been through employment tribunal for an employee, they were protected and we could prove we had made adjustments and it was unrelated to the issues at hand. It did give protection to them had I been an arsehole

[Aeroflotgirl]

I would declare for both, if you are in a position that requires you to be responsible for another life, such as being a Pilot, or Doctor than you really should.

[HuckleberryGin]

You should declare it. I have Bipolar and do. They shouldn't withdraw a job offer based on a disability. It's about seeing if they need to make adjustments.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

the truth you should probably declare it you are more likely to be sacked for being dishonest than being ill

^ this

If you don't declare you are falsifying documentation.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Good point, I didn't think about the falsifying documents.

No position of power; nothing like that. It wouldn't affect my job if I hadn't declared it. Psych is aware of new job and supportive, she offered to write me a letter in support but I didn't think I'd need one. I'll have appts outside of work until I've been stable for a while again. I'm nearly there!

I'll declare it and hope for the best. Thank you all.

[HuckleberryGin]

Why shouldn't someone with Bipolar Disorder be a doctor? I was a teacher for over 10 years

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Why shouldn't someone with Bipolar Disorder be a doctor?

No one has said they shouldn't.

[brasty]

There are Drs with bipolar, and all kinds of responsible jobs. There is lots of stigma still around mental illnesses like bipolar

[FairfaxAikman]

I have personally never declared my BPD.

However mine is very well controlled with medication, and i have family members who are MH nurses so any change gets picked up pronto.

[HuckleberryGin]

Aeroflotgirl insinuated that people with Bipolar shouldn't have jobs with responsibility.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

However mine is very well controlled with medication, and i have family members who are MH nurses so any change gets picked up pronto.

This has always been my thinking; stable for 8 years until I lost my job at the end of last year. I'm not unstable now, just being monitored carefully because the MH services around here are surprisingly on the ball at the moment. I'm taking my meds, passing assessments, part of me feels 'normal' enough that I don't need to declare it...

But it'd be untruthful not to, so I'll declare it but say it's well controlled and hopefully they won't mind. They seem nice, I've met HR two or three times now.

[ColdFeetinWinter]

I think Aeroflot made a good point actually. She didn't say they shouldn't have jobs but she did say some employers should know.

You have to report various health conditions to the DVLA and I'm sure aviation will have similar rules. If you are experiencing severe mental health difficulties you shouldn't be flying or driving an articulated lorry. In the same way that if you have regular diabetic hypoglycaemic attacks nor should you. It's not discrimination. It's good sense.

[ColdFeetinWinter]

www.gov.uk/bipolar-disorder-and-driving

Lots of other conditions are the same. I have to have medical checks and sign to say I've declared them in order to do my job which includes driving.

[WannaBe]

Legally you don't have to declare it, but if they ask then not disclosing could go against you.

[LIZS]

I would declare anything that might necessitate any adjustments. If your sickness record might be affected for example, beyond their acceptable limit, you can't expect extended tolerance if you fail to declare. Likewise time off for appointments.

[UnbornMortificado]

I've always disclosed my bi-polar. I'm a home carer and because of my diagnose I do a lot of MH calls as I can relate well to service users.

If it's not relevant to the job I probably wouldn't.

[Aeroflotgirl]

I never said such a thing, people are twisting what I am saying. In certain jobs such as those responsible for life, such as Pilot or Mabey Doctor you might need to. I know, if you are a pilot yiu have to declare it. A pilot has to undergo various psychological tests to ensure they are fit to fly, and won't for example crash the plane into a mountain. Which is what happened a couple of years ago. The pilot responsible did not declare his mental health issues.

[UnbornMortificado]

I agree with aero actually, I might not save lives regularly (I've brought someone back with cpr once, on my second day) but I do have a responsibility to keep other people safe.

I think any health job should take candidates MH and physical health into account.

The plane that was crashed is a good example.