Disclosing mental health to new jobs

LegacyUser

Hi there,

I recently started a new job, and with my contract came a health questionnaire. There are a few questions i am unsure whether to answer honestly. 1- asks about was i absent from work for over two weeks due to an ongoing illness, 2 - current medication and 3-tick had or have a psychiatric or mental health problem and a section to elaborate underneath.

It also says managers will be made aware of any conditions disclosed if necessary, should i answer honestly or would it effect my passing the probation period? The whole reason i took this job was because i have been unwell and i need to work part time instead of full time.

Does anyone have any advise?

TwoGallants

I'll be honest, unless you've been hospitalised and have a major psychiatric condition I'd be tempted to tell them go f*** themselves. You do not have an obligation to tell them anything if you're capable of doing the job.

roseybear

I usually do fill it in, I feel that the fact that you recgonise there is r was a problem and that you did/are doing something about it shows responsibility with the issue and protects you down the line of you did have a reoccurrence/flair up. I've mentioned it on all job applications I fill in (when its asked) and its never been an issue

roseybear

I usually do fill it in, I feel that the fact that you recgonise there is r was a problem and that you did/are doing something about it shows responsibility with the issue and protects you down the line of you did have a reoccurrence/flair up. I've mentioned it on all job applications I fill in (when its asked) and its never been an issue

Brego888

Well for starters they cant discriminate against if you've had mental health issues so it is safe to disclose any illness/disorders you've had.

I would imagine (but stand to be corrected) that if you suffered a further relapse of your illness, lets say a depressive episode, and required some time off you would have to report to your occupational health department on return to work. Cant imagine they would be too impressed to then find out it was an existing illness. How this would impact on your job i cant really say.

So to summarize be honest and reference your history.

TwoGallants

Brego888 wrote: »

Well for starters they cant discriminate against if you've had mental health issues so it is safe to disclose any illness/disorders you've had.

No its not. It may be the law but since the OP is on a probationary period his employer can just make something up if he thinks the OP is a 'flight risk'. There is too much stigma out there, and its none of the employers business anyway.

LegacyUser

TwoGallants wrote: »

No its not. It may be the law but since the OP is on a probationary period his employer can just make something up if he thinks the OP is a 'flight risk'. There is too much stigma out there, and its none of the employers business anyway.

Thanks guys
I think I will not disclose it. Like two gallants says I am afraid I will just be let go after the probation period. I am also worried my colleagues will find out if my manager is told. I am not ashamed of it and has made me a stronger person but I think in this instance a little white lie might be best.

Czarcasm

Riskingit wrote: »

Hi there,

I recently started a new job, and with my contract came a health questionnaire. There are a few questions i am unsure whether to answer honestly. 1- asks about was i absent from work for over two weeks due to an ongoing illness, 2 - current medication and 3-tick had or have a psychiatric or mental health problem and a section to elaborate underneath.

It also says managers will be made aware of any conditions disclosed if necessary, should i answer honestly or would it effect my passing the probation period? The whole reason i took this job was because i have been unwell and i need to work part time instead of full time.

Does anyone have any advise?

The operative words there OP being "if necessary", your immediate managers will be informed about your mental health history. This doesn't mean that they definitely will be. You succeeded in getting the job, so now the only person that can do themselves out of that opportunity, is you.

One of the easiest ways to do that is to lie on your contract. They're not just formal bits of paper, they are a contract of employment, they are just as much about protecting you as your employer. If you lie on your contract, that leaves you without a leg to stand on if your mental health is an issue in the future. Your employer will be well within their right to cease your employment.

If you make them aware of the fact however from the outset, they are aware of the issue, it may never become an issue, but if it does, and if you need to take time off in the future, your employers will be more understanding about it if you've been honest with them from the outset.

TwoGallants wrote: »

No its not. It may be the law but since the OP is on a probationary period his employer can just make something up if he thinks the OP is a 'flight risk'. There is too much stigma out there, and its none of the employers business anyway.

There's nothing in the law at the moment that prevents or prohibits discrimination on the grounds of mental illness. Have you any idea how much it costs an employer in any industry to hire and fire a person? The whole idea of the company looking to hire a person in the first place is NOT to look for ways to fire them. The employer is more interested in knowing the person is able to do their job and would want to ensure the health and safety of the employee and their co-workers.

It is most certainly the employers business to know that one of their employees may require assistance or time off in the future if they are experiencing mental health difficulties that causes them or their work to suffer unnecessarily when it could have been prevented had the employer been informed in the beginning. It's best not to mislead the OP with misinformed opinion.

OP you have to ask yourself - Is a company that doesn't pay due regard to your mental health actually a company you want to work for?

ambid

I would place a call to the Data Protection Commissioner as I'm not sure your employer has a right to that information. As far as I know an employer has a right to ask you to take a medical examination to verify you are fit to work, but I don't see why they would have the right to hold detailed information specifically on mental health issues or medication.

Before you make a decision on what to do I'd call the Commissioner's office (you'll find their number at dataprotection.ie). You can explain the scenario and they will provide advice. This will all be anonymous as they won't ask your name or any personal details.

To mislead your employer is a very big deal. If the Commissioner's office advises you don't have to share that information, you can tell your employer you can't give that information in compliance with data protection but you would be willing to take a physical examination. That would seem the best result for you.

Czarcasm

ambid wrote: »

I would place a call to the Data Protection Commissioner as I'm not sure your employer has a right to that information. As far as I know an employer has a right to ask you to take a medical examination to verify you are fit to work, but I don't see why they would have the right to hold detailed information specifically on mental health issues or medication.

Under equality legislation, a person isn't strictly obliged to inform their employer about their mental health issues, but then that's just a lie by omission.

Employers aren't required to know the specifics of your condition, but they would need to know what medication you are on as some medications can make you drowsy, etc, it depends entirely on the nature of your employment. As long as there are adequate record keeping procedures in place and your employer is compliant with data protection laws, and they have measures in place to protect your data, it won't be an issue.

Before you make a decision on what to do I'd call the Commissioner's office (you'll find their number at dataprotection.ie). You can explain the scenario and they will provide advice. This will all be anonymous as they won't ask your name or any personal details.

To mislead your employer is a very big deal. If the Commissioner's office advises you don't have to share that information, you can tell your employer you can't give that information in compliance with data protection but you would be willing to take a physical examination. That would seem the best result for you.

Good advice, but your mental health is just as important to an employer as your physical health. You can find out more information on www.equality.ie

jms2013

Keep stum OP, it's none of their business.

Babooshka

There are plenty of sociopathic Managers and Supervisors out there...do you think they announce their mental problems when going for work by describing themselves as domineering ego freaks on their application forms? Nah. So why should someone with depression or mental health issues declare this, when they are so discriminated against, even unknowingly - by people who have such little understanding of such matters? In an ideal world it'd be hunky dory to inform an employer of these issues, in the real world, frankly, No. Anyone can develop mental health issues at any time, anyway, so what does it matter if you've had them in the past? They are transient conditions which can affect anyone and do not sum anyone up as a person, nor are they an indicator of future mental health either... one is not one's condition....so, no, I would not give that information in order to protect myself against discrimination.