Most people don’t declare medical conditions at work unless they absolutely have to.

[Grapesandcheseseplease]

I’ve had a few medical conditions since my twenties (I’m now in my forties) which I never declared on work applications or on health checks at work. I haven’t needed any adaptations at work and no one was in danger so I felt that telling them would be pointless and I would face discrimination. In my last job I declared a medical condition and within weeks was pushed out. Speaking to my friends, it seems we’re quite split.

What do you think?
YABU- I have always been honest about my health in (prospective) jobs.
YANBU- I do not declare heath issues unless absolutely necessary.

That’s awful! Punished for trying to work despite their issues. I agree a workplaces reaction is very telling.

I guess in your case you have no choice. I hope they see past your condition, best of luck.

I'm don't declare because it's my private business, I'm not asking for adaptations and I'm not expecting to need time off, they are the sort of "one of those things" conditions, lifelong but no relevance to my work.

I agree with this. I feel like people get punished for bad health at work. And the judgement is awful!

It wasn't used against me but I disclosed PND on a health form and the school I was starting a new job at (but already knew me) made me go to Occupational Health (DC was five by then!)

I have recently disclosed a physical ailment as I may need time off when my treatment appointment comes up.

I am sure they are already aware of my health being shot right now (perimenopause) but I am never going to admit the extent of my mental health issues. They cannot make reasonable adjustments and it will be another nail in my coffin.

Gosh, I haven't had to declare conditions myself but this thread is so worrying to me. I have two teens with autism and both have associated anxiety issues. One has OCD. They are both academically capable and should get decent qualifications but may need some adjustments in future workplaces to function well - I don't know this but based on in their experiences of school this would be a possibility. I had already thought that it would be inadvisable to declare anything when applying but hoped it would be ok to declare after starting a job. So depressing to hear that illness or disability is still such a stigma.

@BeTheCrown that’s strange about the PND. Have your work (school?) been ok about your physical ailments? It makes me sad about being another nail in the coffin. Funnily enough, I told my school that I was perimenopausal just before I declared the condition that saw me pushed out.

I truly hope that things change and we get to a point where people are trusted to know their capabilities and what works for them without being punished for things out of their control by the time your teens start working. At the moment, sadly there is still a big stigma.

you are under no obligation to share any medical info with your employer

however if you require any support or reasonable adjustments of protection from discrimination then they need to be told.

Fine so far, as my attendance is high, only one day off. But ask me again this time next year.

I actually think it would have been fine if they’d just declared it but they were worried it would be a barrier :-(

You certainly are for jobs that are safety critical and where your condition might impact the safety of others or yourself.

That Is not what the law says though.

whilst it can be helpful to share medical information there is no legal obligation to do so and employers can ask but not require.

just check ACAS or ask any employment solicitor.

What do you think the law says exactly? There is no law requiring you to reveal medical information, but if you are asked to do so by your employer and refuse, or lie, then they are going to dismiss you if, for example, you are a crane operator and omitted to reveal your epilepsy diagnosis.

That said there are laws which would be applicable if you failed to disclose something that directly impacted on your employment - e.g the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. That Act imposes an equal duty of employees to protect their health and safety and that of others. So if you failed to declare something that could or would make you unfit for work, it could very easily be a dismissable offence. I suspect, although I don't know the case in question, that that sort of scenario applied to the nurse who was fairly dismissed for failing to declare.

If you are dismissed for not disclosing medical information then you will have a case for unfair dismissal for a protected characteristic.

do check with ACAS or an employment solicitor if still unclear 👍

It’s a bit more complicated than that.

You posted as I was typing - you are talking about two different sets of obligations in law though. Nobody is obliged to disclose their health conditions. Full stop. But they are required to comply with Health & Safety at work, and that may mean that they are legally not able to do certain jobs because of their condition. In which case, if they then covered up their condition they can not only be dismissed fairly, but they could also be prosecuted for Health & Safety violations, or, in the worst case secenario, potentially sued for damages arising from their actions.

Like I said check with ACAS or an employment solicitor if you think you need to

You’ve explained that so much better than I. Thanks.

They would declare it if it benefitted them , I've found .

Then they play on it and want special treatment.

You can't claim for anything you didn't tell an employer about. e.g. if you don't announce you're pregnant and you are made redundant, no maternity discrimination payout.

As an employer of people in a very small business (think sub 10) it would really destroy me /us if only one employee was off sick for a significant period. I would of course support them. But if I had two similar candidates at the outset of a recruitment process and one has an issue the other didn't I can't honestly say it wouldn't weigh in on my thought process

That does seem to be more common these days whereas it used to be a terrible stigma and source of shame to admit to any MH issues.

I've never declared health conditions as have been paranoid about discrimination

The business I am in requests that you declare any medical issues to HR or those who are setting up your pay & benefits after you are offered the job, this is for private healthcare which you may not be covered for if its a pre-existing medical condition, but its not mandatory. Sometimes it is good for employers to have this information if there are any considerations for adapting your work schedule for example or if there are emergencies at work. I certainly wouldn't make it known at interview stage as its no ones business if it doesnt affect your ability to do that particular job. Similarly if you are pregnant, legally you dont have to disclose the information. We are human and unconscious and conscious bias would affect someones decision making if you have a candidate with a health issue. My direct report didnt declare a condition to me and they told me after they were appointed about the medical appointments they would need to go on, which have got worse and I definitely wouldn't have hired them if I had known then how much time off they needed. So I am human and I get why no one should declare any medical conditions. They are good at their job but I am often picking up the slack when they are not there.