Work asking for medical report

[Jourdain11]

Just asking because I'm curious, really! I've been off work sick for a few months with a standard medical certificate (although my department and the person I've been corresponding with from HR know a little more detail). I'm asking to return to occasional duties (which is relevant and helpful to the organisation because of my specific role) and have a doctor's note to state that this is okay from a health point of view; as in, it will not compromise my health or set back my recovery. Originally I was to have a telephone call with Occupational Health to clear it all, but now HR have asked for a medical report.

I've just read the draft letter they are proposing to send to my doctor and I was quite taken aback by the level of detail they were requesting. What is the exact diagnosis, what is the prognosis, what is the ongoing treatment likely to be? And then some more work-specific things, like are there adjustments that can be made that would help me to perform my role, etc.

As it happens, I don't really object to any of this. But I was surprised. Are they technically within their rights to obtain all this info? Because in some circumstances, I can see that one might reasonably feel it was a bit intrusive. Surely all they really need to know is whether the doctor thinks you can do your job? (Or the parts of it you are proposing to do, in this case.)

Your GP would be quite within their rights to charge for such a report as it is well beyond the Fit for Work note they are obliged to provide, and if they charge your employer should be covering the cost.

I don't believe the GP is allowed to provide any details of your health to anyone without your prior agreement. Are your employers asking for your agreement hence you have seen the draft?

It's normal. You don't have to give your doctor permission to provide the information, but if you don't, expect to be told you need to see your employer's doctor before you're allowed back to work.

What if, for example, somebody had a condition (like an eating disorder or a personality disorder) which is subject of a lot of societal stigma and they didn't want to disclose?

Surely the GP saying "X has mental health issues but these are currently well controlled and unlikely to cause an issue at work - however, X's condition may cause them to struggle with A, B and C" would be sufficient, without requesting the specific diagnosis?

But what if the employee wasn't happy to disclose

Your GP will ask for your consent to disclose.

If you had something sensitive that you didn't want disclosed, you'd discuss it with your GP and you might consent to disclosure of x and y info but not z.

Then your employer might want more info and you'd talk to them about why they need that extra info, and you'd make a decision by weighing up your own privacy vs what your employer needs to keep you safe/make reasonable adjustments, etc.

Unless they're actually awful, an employer is just looking to protect themselves from claims rather than delving into your personal life for the fun of it. It's just a case of understanding each other's needs and concerns and reaching a workable compromise.

I went ahead and gave permission - did say that I wanted to see what the GP has written first, though!