Page 2 | Worried I'll lose out on a job if I wear my hearing aids for interview

DenholmElliot1 · 21/07/2022 22:19

Please wear them - the interviewer will get tired very quickly of repeating herself because you can't hear and it won't fool anyone.

MichelleScarn · 21/07/2022 22:20

Wear them, .if they are the type of shitey place who would discriminate against you, you wouldn't want to lower yourself to work for such a horrible place!

RRBB1920 · 22/07/2022 11:28

I wear hearing aids and glasses, if the employers don't want me because of that their loss and I wouldn't want to work for them anyway. In your situation wear your hearing aids and go for it. Best of luck 😀

prettyteapotsplease · 22/07/2022 11:44

By not wearing your hearing aids you'll only be making life more difficult for yourself by repeatedly having to say 'pardon' or guessing what is the right thing to say, which is awkward. Why shoot yourself in the foot? Best of luck OP.

Mischance · 22/07/2022 12:05

I too wear glasses and hearing aids - most people don't even know I wear the aids and some have said "Oo you've got hearing aids!" and are astounded when I say I have worn them for years - they simply had not noticed until that moment.

Definitely wear them to the interview.

tentinginmarch · 22/07/2022 12:35

I'm at a big four. Wear them and be proud. I'd hire you if you're hard working, keen to learn, and articulate.
No shits given about any disabilities (obvs other than to support any needs they may have, not as a negative against you).

WinterMusings · 22/07/2022 12:42

GMH1974 · 21/07/2022 20:25

As the title says, I'm worried my hearing will count against me. I think I'm older than a lot of other candidates too. I'm wondering if I should try to manage without the hearing aids at interview so I can't be discriminated against. I had to leave my previous job because my manager was horrible about my hearing.

I'm sorry that your previous manager was a twat.

wearing a hearing aid, why would that be a problem?? Not wearing one when you need to wear one is very frustrating for other people because you're choosing to make communication more difficult than necessary. Unless they're uncomfortable to wear for long periods etc.

my mum is pretty good about eating hers, but se had to try a few different ones to get ones that were ok to wear all day and not cause her problems when in a shop/cafe etc.

most are so small these days, how would anyone even know? Not that it matters if yours are really visible.

besides you can use it as a screening too. If there the kind of idiots who would treat you negatively because if it, you wouldn't want to work there!

goid luck with the interview!

HelloAllll · 22/07/2022 12:42

I would be much more likely to judge / not offer you the job if you didn't wear your hearing aids (and are unable to hear the interviewees when it could be easily rectified by you wearing your hearing aids) than if you turned up wearing them.
If you are concious is there not a way you could hide them with yout hair (not that you should need to)

MayThe4th · 22/07/2022 12:47

Unfortunately disability discrimination in the workplace is rife, and legally there would be very little you can do about it.

According to a recent survey, 17% of people have had a job offer withdrawn due to their disability, and 13% of people have had an interview invite withdrawn for the same reasons.

Having said that, if a company discriminates against you at interview stage then they would likely discriminate against you in the workplace, so far better to find out sooner rather than later.

Also, if you have to fill in an occupational health questionnaire at the time you start the job you would need to declare your disability anyway.

CuttedUpDress · 22/07/2022 12:50

I have to point out my hearing aids if I want someone to notice them.

They are NHS and not even the smallest type they do.

purpleme12 · 22/07/2022 12:58

TurquoiseDreamCatcher · 21/07/2022 22:15

I love my hearing aids, they are part of my identity. I've even jazzed them up with stickers 🤣 I've worn them since childhood though so I'm very comfortable with them.

If you are worried about wearing them at the interview, could you wear them but with your hair down so they are less visible?

What do you jazz them up with?
Do you have a link where you get the stickers from?
I would have liked purple ones but they only do those for children apparently!

purpleme12 · 22/07/2022 13:03

CuttedUpDress · 22/07/2022 12:50

I have to point out my hearing aids if I want someone to notice them.

They are NHS and not even the smallest type they do.

I agree same thing with me.
Although now they issue the silver ones rather than the beige they are a bit more noticeable (not that I'm bothered)

Mischance · 22/07/2022 17:10

My NHS ones are dark grey - I have very dark hair and they sort of blend in.

Hearing aid stickers - bring 'em on!

Bagzzz · 23/07/2022 01:48

Have you had the interview yet @GMH1974 ? Just wondering how it went.

iwishihadaname · 23/07/2022 02:53

wear them and good luck

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 23/07/2022 03:19

Doubt I'd notice unless they were bright red and even then....
Def wear them, repeating the question constantly would be more noticeable and make you more nervous.
Also people do have accents, mumble and talk to the table when looking at their notes/your cv.

It is illegal but I understand your nervousness.

daisychain01 · 23/07/2022 03:25

Also, if you have to fill in an occupational health questionnaire at the time you start the job you would need to declare your disability anyway.

This is not the case.

You do not have to disclose a disability, ever. It is against the law in U.K. to demand that an employee discloses a disability if they choose not to. No form should ever even ask any such question - if they do ask, it's because they are using an ancient form that's been gathering dust in their cupboard for the past 22 years. The employee is within their rights to ignore the question.

daisychain01 · 23/07/2022 03:27

Typo sorry 12 years (EqA 2010)

Original poster

GMH1974 · 23/07/2022 12:09

I had the interview. They interviewed me on Friday because I'm on holiday next week so that was accomodating of them. Some more people are being interviewed on Monday so they said I wouldn't hear until the end of next week. They're taking on two people and it seemed to go well, so we'll see.

OP posts:

Staynow · 23/07/2022 12:13

Did you wear your hearing aids? I hope so. Did you make a complaint about your old manager? I really hope so, what a horrible person. I really cannot imagine someone being treated badly because they have hearing aids, it's just unbelievable.

Staynow · 23/07/2022 12:14

Actually I've just remembered I work with some with a hearing aid, it's such a minor thing that its really the last thing I think of when I think of them and it has zero impact on them being very good at their job.

Original poster

GMH1974 · 23/07/2022 12:25

I did wear the hearing aids.
I did say to HR that she shouldn't have done what she did. She then got really nasty and said she'd put me on a competency procedure. I thought about taking her to an industrial tribunal but I honestly didn't want the stress. They haven't managed to recruit and she's now having to do my job as well as her own. They also held an evening meeting on the hottest day ever in the UK so I'm just so glad to be out of it!

OP posts:

GreatBigExpectations · 07/08/2022 15:42

GMH1974 · 23/07/2022 12:25

I did wear the hearing aids.
I did say to HR that she shouldn't have done what she did. She then got really nasty and said she'd put me on a competency procedure. I thought about taking her to an industrial tribunal but I honestly didn't want the stress. They haven't managed to recruit and she's now having to do my job as well as her own. They also held an evening meeting on the hottest day ever in the UK so I'm just so glad to be out of it!

Did you get the job @GMH1974 ?

Jalisco · 07/08/2022 16:50

I wouldn't give a damn about your hearing aids, assuming I even noticed them.

Realistically, if someone is going to discriminate against you then it'll be impossible to prove that as the reason you didn't get the job; and why would you want to work for someone like that anyway? Best to know now if they are that poor an employer, because they won't get any better.