Sickness in employment reference

[Newstartplease24]

I work for financial services company. I hate the culture and I’ve been ill a lot this year, mainly through stress. There was one period of 3 weeks after a breakdown.

I’ve been offered another job subject to references.

I know that a detailed reference could include sickness records. Is there any way that I could find out whether they are likely to request and receive a detailed reference?

they will also carry out third party checks etc, all fine, no worries there. It’s just the sickness.

does anyone know?

I used to work for a massive FS company and our references did not say anything other than confirming the individual worked there from x to y date.

Do you know anyone who left that you can ask? Or is there an open forum you can ask anonymously? Or does it state on the intranet / HR procedures?

I do know someone who left the same co and was offered a job at the new co! But I doubt she would know what the actual reference said? She will have filled in the forms and that’s it surely?

my company is so huge I am actually wondering whether if I directly asked hr it would matter. I mean they are so far from the people I work with, no one would know I was thinking of resigning. But they probably wouldn’t tell me if only because they don’t have to, and they won’t do anything for you they don’t have to

What do you think would happen if I just asked the new company what form the reference would take?

I would just let them get on with it. 3 weeks isn’t a huge amount and won’t necessarily put them off you.

I think the new company would have concerns if you indicate that you are worried about providing a reference.

I think if you are confident that you could, if needed, explain to the new company that the sickness absences were unusual and unlikely to be repeated, that would hopefully be acceptable.

Yeah good point
I think technically it might relate to a disability in which case they can’t disclose it but I don’t know how to make sure my hr know that or adhere to it

Is 3 weeks not a lot? What do others think? It was not the only sickness - also I had covid badly this year

They can ask about illness record of the person but it should reflect the total time the person has worked there ie if you're working there for 5 years and had done one bad year sickness wise then the reference should be different to someone who has consistently high levels of absence each year.
Our company does ask about sickness record of potential candidates .

Why do you think they can't disclose disability related sickness? They can. Some employers may treat disability related sickness differently (there is guidance that suggests it is good practice especially if reasonable adjustments are to be considered), but there is nothing to say that they can't disclose it.

What is the disability?

That depends on the employer. My employer would have you in, at the every least, stage one procedures (trigger point is 11 days) and if there are two separate periods, then probably at stage two. And that is the "cushy" public sector.

If you think there is a reasonable chance that they will disclose, I would head them off at the pass and explain your situation - I have frequently had applicants in similar circumstances, and all that happens is that OH sign off the work related stress and unlikely to re-occur with a new employer. We all know that stuff happens at work that makes leaving a good idea, and if they don't, would you really want to work for them?

@EmmaMaria https://www.acas.org.uk/providing-a-job-reference/what-employers-can-say-in-a-reference
this says they can’t disclose disability related absence

my employer has sickness policy triggered by 10 days too, how is that relevant to the new employer?
I have tried hard not to take sick days and it contributed to the eventual burn out which made it hard for my current employer to treat it as a disciplinary matter along with drs notes, occ heath etc

in the end I would rather be well and not have a disability but only one of those is slightly within my control, which is why I need another job

Is it really good advice to disclose? Would that be to the new line manager or to hr?

I have had reference requests from businesses and they usually do ask for total amount of days sickness taken within the last 2 years

I work for a multi national, references are from hr not line manager and confirm dates of employment and job title. That's it.

It wouldn’t have sickness dates on at my organisation. Honestly, I think they’re happy when people with higher sickness rates move on, they’ll keep quiet to wave the person off without having to resort to performance plans etc.

"Should not" and "must not" are different things, That is guidance, and says "should not". And on what basis are the absences disability related anyway - "technically" doesn't cut it. It's not that I am being unsympathetic - but you are asking for factual answers, not sympathy or opinions.

And the point about the trigger was a response to your question as to whether 3 weeks was a lot - for many employers the answer is yes, it's a lot. That's a matter of opinion and circumstances though - some employers would be veryt unhappy with 3 weeks, others wouldn't bat an eyelid; and if it was three weeks of cancer treatment that would almost certainly be viewed very differently, because most employers would be more sympathetic about the cause (although that is obviously a clear cut disability related reason).

Equally, choosing whether to disclose is a matter of opinion - a good employer would not see a "bad patch" as a barrier to employment. As a manager I have employed people in your circumstances, and so would my employer. At worst we'd ask OH for an opinion, and that invariably comes back positive.