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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to fail to disclose pregnancy in pre-employment medical test?

73 replies

Calmondeck · 01/01/2023 02:58

It may be illegal to do this, in which case I am definitely BU. But am fairly stressed about losing a job I’ve been offered and interested in your perspectives…

In short, I have been offered dream job in international organisation subject to intensive/standard for the org pre-employment medical screening (X-rays, eye test, hearing, the lot). I have taken a similar test for the same organisation before and passed with no problem.

This time - I am early early days pregnant. Because of a retroverted uterus, the dating scan wasn’t able to detect a heartbeat, so at this point I don’t even know whether the pregnancy is viable.

however on the test I need to answer two questions:
Date of last menstrual period (I don’t actually know this because I am still breastfeeding and have extremely irregular periods)
Pregnant (yes / no)

I should note that this is an organisation wide test so is suitable for colleagues going to far flung places but I will be desk-based in a European city.

WWYD?

OP posts:

EnyoClytemnestra · 01/01/2023 07:43

Very selfish.
You are planning to decieve your employer before you even start
Then you will go onto mat leave early into this job, leaving employer to find and pay for a replacement for you
Charming. As are those who think this is acceptable practice

daretodenim · 01/01/2023 07:47

I was scheduled for a chest X-ray and found out I was pregnant just before. They wouldn't do the X-ray if there was even a chance I was pregnant.

I'm wondering if this is the reason for the last period question too.

But I don't see why that couldn't be a separate form at the medical centre on the day - which would make it more accurate anyway. I find it extremely invasive that a general medical form for work asks that. I'd want to know where the data goes and how long it's stored for. If a woman was being sent to certain states in the US, it could put her at risk.

CamsPaisleyCuffs · 01/01/2023 07:51

In the UK an employer is obligated to carry out a very specific risk assessment for pregnant and breastfeeding women, so it is important that they know you are pregnant/breast feeding.

OooohAhhhh · 01/01/2023 08:08

Lie.
They are cheeky to even ask those questions.
No job ever needs to know the dates of your last period! It's personal & I'm pretty sure they aren't allowed to ask that. You don't have to disclose pregnancy at job interviews.
I started a new job pregnant & never disclosed it. You won't get the job if you tell them that you are pregnant, yes employers aren't allowed to discriminate but we all know they do.

Hugasauras · 01/01/2023 08:20

I don't know what the rules are in the US. Here you don't have to disclose until you are about 25 weeks. I was pregnant when I started my job (about 8 weeks) and didn't mention it till about 15 weeks. My friend didn't disclose hers till 24 weeks. But US labour laws are totally different.

lanthanum · 01/01/2023 08:20

Have there been any other changes in your health since you last did a medical for them? If not, I think you are completely safe to tell them (assuming UK) as they are not allowed to discriminate against you on grounds of pregnancy. If they were to turn you down on grounds of the medical, they would immediately open themselves up to the possibility of a discrimination tribunal. They cannot risk turning you down unless they can come up with a strong reason which is completely unrelated to the pregnancy.

Hugasauras · 01/01/2023 08:22

Oh I see it's desk-based European, I assumed US. Then you just need to see what the law is where you are. I wouldn't disclose unless necessary although an X-ray would make me uncomfortable.

Hugasauras · 01/01/2023 08:24

And sadly it's quite naive to think that pregnant women are immune to discrimination in the UK just because it's the law. There have been numerous threads on here where people have had job offers withdrawn or trials terminated for spurious reasons after telling their employers they are pregnant. Especially at interview stage when it's easy to find other reasons to turn someone down and hard to prove it's because of the pregnancy, even when it's blindingly obvious.

CremeEggsForBreakfast · 01/01/2023 08:28

Are you in the UK? Your use of the term OB/GYN suggests not.

Almost everyone here will probably advise you not to answer because this is a UK based site and those questions are literally illegal here. And even if you were in the UK, it wouldn't especially be worth lying because you would still probably miss out on maternity pay once you did admit the pregnancy.

wherearebeefandonioncrisps · 01/01/2023 08:29

I'm assuming that this medical is to rule out underlying/previously diagnosed medical conditions that would then be exempted under the company's medical insurance cover.

hoowhoo · 01/01/2023 08:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Tigger7654 · 01/01/2023 08:33

I wouldn't say anything until you have to, as you said you don't know if viable. You don't legally have to tell them until you're around 6 months pregnant. However if they want you to have an x-ray you'll have to tell them, you can't have an x-ray when pregnant. Why would you need one for a job anyway?

Lonelylonelylonely · 01/01/2023 08:34

They are not allowed to withdraw a job offer on the basis of pregnancy and yes, whilst this does still happen, would you be happy working for an organisation that would be prepared to do this? In reality even if you keep quiet at this stage and then let them know later, if they are the type of organisation which would get rid of you for that they'd find a way after you disclosed it in the later stages anyway.

The occupational health people are also not allowed to disclose that information to HR or anyone else in the organisation either.

alpinia · 01/01/2023 08:46

This is standard for international organisations like the UN. I expect other posters are applying UK expectations. Having to complete this medical in no way means the employer will be a nightmare like some are suggesting.

Are you having the medical with your own doctor or theirs? I've never actually been asked any of the more invasive questions on the list. The x-ray is for TB and not avoidable.

I've also seen many people turn up in varying stages of pregnancy without the office knowing in advance, including some only weeks from going on maternity leave and it's never caused problems. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more specifically.

Limer · 01/01/2023 08:52

You can't lie on the form. But if you leave those questions blank, the employer will assume that either you're deliberately not answering them, or you genuinely don't know. Therefore they'll test your urine. I'm assuming they'll want you to produce a urine sample at the medical in order for them to test for drugs - they'll test for pregnancy too.

Holyduster · 01/01/2023 08:54

echoing Some of the posters above and think you shouldn’t have an X-ray if you are/think you are pregnant.

GeekyThings · 01/01/2023 08:56

Guessing this is for health insurance? If the law in your employing country states they can't discriminate against you for being pregnant then you shouldn't have to worry about it. I don't think they'd be foolish enough to turn you down now when it would be so obvious the pregnancy could be the reason.

Don't do an x-ray without telling the radiographer about your pregnancy, I don't see why you'd risk the pregnancy just to keep it quiet.

birdling · 01/01/2023 08:57

I can't help thinking that, if it's early, you might not have even known. And, to be fair, since they couldn't find a heartbeat, you still aren't certain.

BarbaraofSeville · 01/01/2023 08:58

Well if it's someone like the UN, rather than a multinational mega corp like Coca Cola, then I would have thought that there is less chance of the offer being withdrawn due to pregnancy.

OP perhaps you could be vague in the questionnaire and then be honest at the time if they want to do the X-ray. After all, if more than a few days passes, your answer could be different, and they'd usually ask 'is there any chance you could be pregnant' rather than a definite yes/no as for radiography, they always have to consider that any woman (between about 12 and 55 I think the standard age range is) could be pregnant, even if she doesn't think she is or isn't planning to become so.

paintitallover · 01/01/2023 09:01

Lie, because you're very early and may not have known anyway. And because they should not have asked

MeJane · 01/01/2023 09:01

I wouldn't have an X-ray I didn't need whether I was pregnant or not.

Name12343212 · 01/01/2023 09:04

Calmondeck · 01/01/2023 03:23

Yes, I’m worried about the X-ray but it’s only for the chest.
@ArcticSkewer i don’t think it’s for insurance purposes, I’m fairly sure it’s just a standard test that’s done for everyone because most colleagues are based on remote places

The chest and uterus are in the torso, they might be asking about pregnancy for safety. There might be tests they can't do for pregnant people.

I'd probably try to say on the form maybe or lie on the form and tell the truth at the medical. Explain that you aren't sure if you are pregnant but there is a possibility. Ask if this affects which tests they do?

BritWifeInUSA · 01/01/2023 09:08

Is the medical for a visa? All of the questions mentioned, including the need for a chest X-ray, are standard for the medical for a visa for many countries. When I immigrated to the US I had to go through all that and when I was at the embassy-approved clinic for my medical there were people there having the same medical screening done for visas for all sorts of countries.

JennyForeigner · 01/01/2023 09:11

IsEveryDayReallyASchoolDay · 01/01/2023 07:27

This may be controversial but I feel that a company has a right to know you are pregnant if you are only going to be there a matter of months and then possibly take a year off.

Do they also have the right to know if you miscarry? If you are pregnant with a high probability of non-viable pregnancy? If you plan to have an abortion? Your thoughts on adoption?

What if you are just unsure? At what point should a woman have to push up a life-changing choice so that her employer isn't inconvenienced?

Pregnancy discrimination happens every single day- there's no need to make it easier for them.

WinkleTinkle · 01/01/2023 09:15

I am in a desk based job overseas and had to have a medical to ensure i am fit to travel & work overseas. Each country has their own requirements which are not negotiable. If i wanted the job i had to do it so i did.

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