Chances of getting a new job after 5 months sick?

[PinkIsMyFavouriteCrayon]

Hi, just wondering if anyone had any advice for me? I've been off on the sick for 5 months with PND. Part of my problem is I don't feel very confident or competant in my current role. I've applied for a couple of jobs, and have been invited to attend two interviews. I have to fill in an occ. health form asking how much sick leave I've had in the past year, although this form will not be looked at until they conditionally offer me a job (subject to refs, health clearence etc)

What is stressing me out is the thought that they might offer me the job and then retract their offer due to my sickness. I'm currently still off on the sick but am returning to work on 27th Dec (interviews are next week). Should I put myself through the stress of the interview just to be knocked back due to my sickness?

Thanks in advance!

You'll have to get a job sometime/somehow, so I say jump in with both feet. If you get an offer retracted, move on. Someone will offer you a job and keep to it.

Good luck, I think you'll be fine. I don't think they are allowed by law to retract based on PND surely???

If you're now fit for work they can't retract an offer because of sick leave taken in the past. They might possible want you to see someone from Occupational Health or something, which would be to make sure everything's fine now and find out if there is anything they could/should be doing to support you.

Don't stress too much about the sick leave (unless you have had loads of other unrelated absences!).

You had PND. You've been treated. You are better. It's not like having something like arthritis which is likely to keep flaring up at regular intervals.

As the law changed on 1st October, they cannot look at the form until after an offer has been made. They would then need to justify withdrawing the offer or risk falling foul of the Disability Discrimination Act. Ifyou were applying for a job as a driver and medically you were unfit to drive they could withdraw the offer based on the fact that there were no reasonable adjustments that could be made. They could withdraw the offer if your references are bad, if there is frequent periods of unrelated absence etc but I would have thought unlikely for PND (they would be wary of DDA and sex discrimination!). Be honest though, lying on an application form creates distrust and that would be a reason for withdrawing the offer.

I would go along to the interviews anyway. If you are not happy in your current job you will be looking to change positions anyway and, even if you don't get this job, it will give you interview practice!

Good luck.

Thank you for all of your quick replies!
Yes that is my only episode of sickness in the past couple of years so at least that's something! You've all been very reassuring

Also the equality act that came into force in october bans employers from asking health related questions and I am assuming this will also mean any questions relating to sickness record. As an employer I find this alarming as I would rather know the truth about any ongoing health issues that I may have to have regard to in order to plan ahead sufficiently. The equality act helps employees in this way. Unfortunately I have had experience of a long term sick employee and could not reclaim the statutory sick pay back plus I had to pay another member of staff to cover - a double whammy for a small employer. Beurocracy gone mad is killing the entrepeneurs of this country. Good luck