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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this can’t be right? Job advert

23 replies

Iorderedyouapancake · 21/10/2021 06:57

Just seen a job advert which states that applicants must not have underlying health conditions or be shielding (shielding has ended now anyway so not sure that’s a particularly meaningful term) - can they really set such a broad condition? It feels to me as though this could potentially be disability discrimination but interested whether anyone knows for sure (for the record it’s an office type job, not in a particularly high risk environment based on the advert)

OP posts:

Dozer · 21/10/2021 06:58

‘Underlying health conditions’ does seem very broad!

rushedruined · 21/10/2021 07:23

That doesn't seem right, no.

AlexaShutUp · 21/10/2021 07:27

Sounds to me like a case for disability discrimination might be coming their way!

OzziePopPop · 21/10/2021 07:30

How would they even know? No one can see say diabetes or asthma? Well unless they notice someone using insulin or an inhaler…

Insane, illegal and impossible to police surely?

AlexaShutUp · 21/10/2021 07:44

@OzziePopPop

How would they even know? No one can see say diabetes or asthma? Well unless they notice someone using insulin or an inhaler…

Insane, illegal and impossible to police surely?

Yes, impossible to tell, of course, but I assume they're trying to pre-empt any requests for adjustments post appointment. Which they can't legally do, for obvious reasons!

butterfly990 · 21/10/2021 07:49

Surely this is just a blatant way of asking what other companies do subtly when they ask you to fill in a health questionaire for occupational health.

Stompythedinosaur · 21/10/2021 07:52

I think that's awful. Surely illegal as disability discrimination?

Sea62648 · 21/10/2021 07:57

@butterfly990

Surely this is just a blatant way of asking what other companies do subtly when they ask you to fill in a health questionaire for occupational health.

Occupational health questionnaires are used to see if candidates who have been offered the job need any extra support in their new role. This job advert is discrimination and can't believe someone would actually post it thinking its acceptable! OP what kind of company is it out of interest?

Siriisatwat · 21/10/2021 07:59

God no! They can’t ask that! That’s discrimination.

As PP said, they ask after the job is in the bag so they can offer support if needed.

DuvetDayIsEveryDay · 21/10/2021 08:00

Yeah thats awful and illegal. I'd report it.. but then I'm CEV with 2 hidden disabilities.

tiggerwhocamefortea · 21/10/2021 08:00

Well I guess they have a point though with the amount of people who self appointed themselves vulnerable and shielding during the last 18 months and employers could do little to nothing about it. it was nothing to do with disability either.

Clearly they haven't got about it in the right (or perhaps most legal way) but i can sort of understand the thinking behind it

GoldenBlue · 21/10/2021 08:15

I'm not sure but I thought this might apply to air hostess roles due to the significant health risks associated with regular flying.

Ellmau · 21/10/2021 08:19

Can you link to the ad?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 21/10/2021 08:20

Is it for a Covid testing centre (or similar?)

I'd still be surprised they put in in black and white, but there are jobs you simply couldn't do if you need to be shielding.

Bluesheep8 · 21/10/2021 08:20

That's got to be illegal, surely. Maybe someone can advise who to report it to?

WhoWants2Know · 21/10/2021 08:20

Is it a job which would put someone at particularly high risk of exposure to infectious disease, or a setting in which it's difficult to implement Covid precautions?

Some jobs do have physical fitness requirements in that they involve tasks that can't be accomplished without repeated bending, lifting, etc over a long period of time. This may be a similar situation. In factories and warehouses, people have to work in close quarters over long periods of time, and Covid can travel like wildfire. So the environment wouldn't be suitable for someone extremely clinically vulnerable.

Thehop · 21/10/2021 08:20

That’s shocking! Please share it so we can report it!

RJnomore1 · 21/10/2021 08:22

What is the job?

freudien · 21/10/2021 08:42

What's the job OP? There are lots of professions where you can't have certain psychological or physical conditions. You can't have Parkinson's and be a neurosurgeon. Or have chronic fatigue and be a HGV driver. But if its 'any' underlying health conditions for a normal office job that's discriminatory.

NeverTheHootenanny · 21/10/2021 08:49

What! No that’s a disability discrimination claim waiting to happen. Do you have a disability OP? If you’re up for it you could apply, wait for the inevitable rejection and then put an employment tribunal claim in (through acas), you wouldn’t necessarily have to go through with it, they would likely agree a settlement through early conciliation. Easy money.

ImNotDancing · 21/10/2021 08:51

@tiggerwhocamefortea

Clearly they haven't got about it in the right (or perhaps most legal way) but i can sort of understand the thinking behind it

Shielding was identified by peoples GP. Thoughts like yours are what let them company think they can get away with discrimination

Ilikewinter · 21/10/2021 08:56

What job is it for? My employer was advertising for Covid testers during the height of the pandemic and they had to stipulate no underlying health conditions due to the potential exposure to Covid and the effect that could have on you if you caught it.

TrollsAreSaddos · 21/10/2021 09:04

I think it might be ok too. Depends on the job.

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