Might a job offer be withdrawn for this reason?

[Notsuretiming]

I have a job offer but am midway through an urgent health investigation - longer due to Christmas. I thought I would know the outcome this week but looking into it properly I could potentially need to wait for further results - the literature says up to 8 weeks.

If I tell prospective employer this and ask for extra time before accepting offer, might they withdraw? How long is reasonable.

That's tricky, I think I would accept and not mention anything other than you have a couple of appointments coming up. What's the investigation for? Is it a protected characteristic like cancer? If you were to be diagnosed then tell them when you know for sure. If not then they don't need to know.

It is a cancer investigation. One concern is that if I did have cancer a new job would be a terrible mistake financially/sick pay. But the chances of it being cancer are low.

Accept the job, don't tell them, and make sure you have appropriate income protection and critical illness insurances just Incase.
Good luck!

I’m not going to get income insurance/protection mid diagnosis surely?

No you won’t, you’re uninsurable until results are in I’m afraid.

I was once "head hunted" mid diagnosis. Slightly different as I was freelance. It was a lucrative engagement.

I thanked them for the offer which I would absolutely love to accept but also told them I was mid diagnosis and whilst the chances were low I didn't want to disrupt their processes in anyway by finding I needed time off so soon. Whilst it wouldn't cost them anything financially and it was extra money for me, there was also that other issue of me potentially not being available so soon after engagement.

They waited. They kept in touch with genuine concern. When I got my results which were fine, they engaged me!

I'd be upfront about it and frame it as helping them, let them know your current timescale, and see what they say in reply.

There is a possibility a company would revoke a job offer if you were unable to commit to starting by a particular date. I don’t think there is a definitive “reasonable” amount of time for a job offer to be kept open.

I think if you were to be candid about the situation with the potentially new employer they’ll probably want to try and work with you. Sensible people would realise if they decide to go through the recruitment process again and not wait for you, the likelihood is they’ll potentially end up having to wait the same amount of time, if not longer, to get another candidate.

I had to look for another job last year due to a change in my physical health - old job involved me staying away from home every week due to the distance and I was too unwell to continue doing it. I decided to be honest with the employers I was applying for work with about the fact I was recovering and wasn’t 100%, still needed to attend appointments etc. To my surprise 3 employers I interviewed with, who offered me a job, were perfectly fine about this. The one suggested I could start and do part time hours to begin with if that would be easier for me. There are decent employers out there and with luck the one that’s offered you a job is one of them.

Yes maybe they would be happy to wait until I know rather than start again, especially as security vetting already completed.

I would go for this option. Best of luck OP.

Are you currently employed somewhere with sick pay etc
Don't give that up until you are sure of the results.
Talk to potential employer.

If you needed to clear security vetting, is it for a role in the civil service? If so, I think they would be much more understanding than the private sector and it might be worth a more open conversation to discuss options / any potential reasonable adjustments that might be required.

What Budgetfoodie said.

Might it be worth paying privately fkr the tests to speed along the diagnosis if the new job is a deal breaker for your career or much higher paying?

It’s local government. I currently get 6 months sick on full pay and then some time on half pay (I think). New job I think is 1 month sick pay then statutory.

The NHS urgent referral process is very risk averse, in all likelihood I’m fine. Waiting feels over cautious - and I’d hate to lose job I am excited about because I’m being too cautious.

i think I will be honest and say I’m waiting for test results and hope for some time. Better than looking like I’m dithering over whether I want it.