Job application

[Ref]

A type 1 friend of mine is looking for a new job and has found one of interest, The online application form includes the following
The Equal Opportunities Act 2010 defines a disability as “A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial long term and adverse effect on a persons’ ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities” and then you have to select an option from the dropdown list - Mental, None, Physical, Physical and Mental.

We are both aware that diabetes falls within the Equality Act but could not decide whether she should select None or Physical since her condition is fairly well controlled, the odd hypo but no hospital admissions. It is an office job.

I guessed this discussion must have been had before and searched the forum for thoughts but still came away unsure as to how she should answer.
What do you think?

 

[Steff]

Hiya Andy.
Im currently scurrying about job hunting and I say no. But I will add once I went onto insulin 4 weeks ago I called the jobcentre and told them I'm now on insulin they said ah you don't need to inform us as long as it does not effect your abilities to attend interviews etc

 

[Hazel]

I believe legally you are obliged to be up front about being diabetic.

Diabetics do require a number of routine medical appts, so you need to ask for time off.

 

[Redkite]

I'd say tick the Physical box. Protect your rights to time off for appointments and appropriate breaks to test BG levels etc.

 

[Steff]

I believe legally you are obliged to be up front about being diabetic.

Diabetics do require a number of routine medical appts, so you need to ask for time off.

I didn't know that I thought it was a case of choice as I was a type 2 on meds alone at time I didn't but now I would for further jobs

 

[mikeyB]

Yes, you must declare it because it protects you in any dispute about time off for medical appointments. And indeed any intercurrent illnesses worsened by diabetes. Many employers like employing diabetics because they count as disabled on their roster, but by and large don't cause any bother. It's one of the very few advantages of being T1.🙂

 

[Greyhound Gal]

I was made redundant at the end of Jan this year. My old employer put us all in contact with a company to help us with the transition to a new job, including applications/interviews etc. This included access to a lawyer who I asked this exact question of as I have a number of conditions which require me to have time off for hospital appts.
There is no legal requirement to disclose any medical conditions (unless they affect your ability to do the job) even if they will require time off for appts on an application form or at interview. Diabetes does not affect my ability to do my job and neither do my other conditions. However, I would disclose my diabetes at interview stage so the potential employer knows they may need to make 'reasonable adjustments'. My other conditions, I would not disclose until I had a conditional offer. This is just me though. It's up to each individual but there is no legal requirement.

 

[mikeyB]

That's true to an extent, GG, but 6 people in Glasgow were killed by a Bin Lorry driver who had not declared a history of faints and blackouts to his employers, so it rather depends on the type of work that you intend do. But as you say, that depends on honesty because there doesn't appear to be a legal requirement.

 

[Northerner]

This page from Diabetes UK might be helpful:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Life-with-diabetes/Employment/

 

[Greyhound Gal]

That's true to an extent, GG, but 6 people in Glasgow were killed by a Bin Lorry driver who had not declared a history of faints and blackouts to his employers, so it rather depends on the type of work that you intend do. But as you say, that depends on honesty because there doesn't appear to be a legal requirement.

That would be classed as affecting your ability to do your job and therefore you would be legally required to disclose it.

 

[Ref]

I would agree it needs to be declared but at the application stage?

A couple of other thoughts.

The application form does not ask about the nature of the disability - so no early opportunity to declare the disability as being diabetes.

Is it a fair question to ask anyway as the link by Northener makes the point that The Equality Act now makes it unlawful for an employer to ask about the health of an applicant before offering them work but it seems from other responses that it is not an uncommon question.

 

[Lucy Honeychurch]

I would declare it. My employer had to do a risk assessment, but I guess it can depend on the type of job do. I'm also a member of Unison, just in case.

 

[Ralph-YK]

I was advised not to put my health conditions on my CV. And to mention them at interview stage. Mine include a genetic heart condition, because of which I've a defibrillator fitted.
T2 on metformin

 

[Ref]

Just to update, I spoke to a friend of mine who works in HR. She said this info is used by the HR department for monitoring and reporting purposes but not made available to those doing the recruiting.

Another question found on a job application, 'Do you consider yourself to have a disability'? I guess most of us would answer that question differently.

 

[Amigo]

I have automatic qualification for disabled registration by virtue of having cancer but I wouldn't declare it on a job application nor would I consider myself 'disabled'. If I couldn't do the job, I'd be honest enough not to apply for it. My understanding of the Act is that only certain occupations require the declaration for safety reasons and we are only required to declare it if 'reasonable adjustments' are needed.

The reality is that certain employers suffer with subliminal discrimination for anyone they think may need time off or cause any inconvenience even if that belief is totally unsubstantiated. I'd get the job first because that way you know you're being judged on personal merits not to satisfy disability quotas or heaven forbid, sympathy! Research/experience suggests discrimation is rife which is why this protection was introduced. Being realistic, can you imagine how people with HIV would fair on job applications if they declared at the initial stage?

In my profession we weren't even allowed to ask applicants their age or gender and certainly not marital status!