Hypothetical as I don’t know if it’ll even come up.
Hopefully starting work with a new employer in a few weeks. They’ve asked an old employer for a reference, dating back ten years ago (asked me to give details to verify I’d worked in healthcare before).
I was on reduced days (8 hour shifts as opposed to 12 hours - HCA) for several months in that job and had a sickness warning twice, due to untreated endometriosis and a sexual assault.
I haven’t declared either to my new employer as the latter is private and the former is now very well managed, had surgery etc.
It’s not my manager providing the reference, as she’s long since gone, it’s payroll so I imagine all they will have is my sickness record and fact that I worked for them.
If my new employer sees that record can they refuse outright? New job is 8-4 and mainly sitting duties, very little hands on care but may be some requirement for more physical work.