I'm not sure if I'm paranoid, but today everyone was given an employment medical questionnaire, asking assorted questions like date of birth, height, weight GP's name & phone number etc. There's nowhere on the form that says it's medical in confidence, or that only the company H&S officer will see it (not that's she medically qualified in any way).
How much am I legally obliged to fill in? There's a section on the bottom which says "I hereby declare that the information given is full and true to the best of my knowledge. I understand that if at a later date it is discovered that I have knowlingly withheld medical information, disciplinary action may be taken againt me, which may include dismissal"
Other questions include "what is your weekly consumption of alcohol", "are you currently taking prescribed medication" and are you currently suffering from or have suffered in the past from any of the illnesses listed below...there then follows a list including stomach & bowel trouble, headaches, allergies, hearing problems, depression, skin problems.
Can they really take disciplinary action if I don't mention a migraine 3 years ago or tell them I'm allergic to penicillin?
I can see if I a serious medical condition I would inform work, but do they need to know I had PND after both children?
Comments
Seems that as a starting point asking them why they need that and how it will be stored would be fair.
We have a 'sectret' envelope that HR hold that should we collapse is opened and sent to the hospital, otehrwise stays sealed and not even HR get to see.
I particularly like the question about how much I weigh (my answer: no idea) and how much I drink (within normal limits)
When working for a food manufacturer, anyone who worked in the factory or had reason to enter the factory had to have a 6 monthly medical - consisting of basic checks to make sure you had no nasties which you wouldn't want someone handling food to have. They checked for ear or throat infections, skin conditions etc. You also had to fill in a questionnaire, basic stuff like had you been to a tropical country in the last 6 months, but nowhere near as intrusive as the questions you are being asked Kwilter.
I don't know what your job is, but can't think of anything where those questions are relevant.
Depends, could be a bit daft, but do you get priate health cover or Permanent Health Insurance as part of your job. May be related to the premiums the company pay, and so in reality you should send those back to the insurer without the HR looking at them - could just be a huge lack of communication. Just ask, that's fair enough.
Or assume something dodgy is happening, go on strike, get the press and the unions in first. Whichever you fancy really.
Juliefrazz, it is a food manufacturer, but I only work in the office not the factory. The thing is there's nothing I would mind disclosing to a medical professional, but don't see why my office manager should need to know. PND is one thing, but what if I'd been hospitalised and needed ECT?
I asked when I came back after 2 months off with cancer if I needed a back to work interview and was told that I didn't, yet 3 weeks later they want to know how much I drink?
I've never been asked to fill one of these type of forms in before, so if it's normal procedure I'll do it under protest. I might list every headache and injury I've had in the last 20 years though
Why, Kwilts? Do you keep a diary of that sort of thing? You need more information to be able decide whether the questionaire is relevant I think, as D74 says.
So how much do you weigh anyway? Really, go on you know you want to say!!
From my tiny bit of knowledge of these things, I think the idea behind it is to prevent someone having an industrial accident and trying to claim for a previous unrelated injury. For example, you may have had years of back pain which the company has no knowledge of, then have a fall at work and sue them for thousands for a back injury sustained on their premises. Does that make sense?
That said, it sounds a particularly intrusive form, and you certainly shouldn't have to give weight, GP's details etc. Presumably the company has an emergency number and if you collapsed at work they wouldn't be ringing your GP anyway.
There should also be some sort of assurance that the form is confidential. As D74 and Coops said, it could be related to some sort of income protection scheme, but that should be made abundantly clear to you and you should be issued with a private/confidential envelope in which to return it.
Depending on the size/structure of the company, I would ask in writing what the purpose of the form is and then go the ACAS route.
some employers will argue that even if you don't sign it, by nature of turning up for work you are accepting the terms of the contract.
we are looking at introducing BUPA cover where I work, to complement a death-in-service package we already have and i have been asked to produce details of all staff off sick for more than 90 days (which tends to be those off with depression or those undergoing treatment for cancer).
i'm not sure about signing the waiver on the WTD - it is fairly common in my industry (social care) and i don't see any issue with it myself, but then again i'm not likely to be asked to do such extra hours.
Employers will argue all sorts of things but that doesnt always mean that they are right - and often aren/t. Silence does not convey agreement to a new contract, especially on such a short time scale. Hubby has a tribunal case on this very point tomorrow on behalf of the employee and expects to win as there is case law to support his arguments.
There are a number of other issues here. Firstly, can you be sacked for not disclosing a medical condition? It has to be fair so the condition would have to make a material difference to your ability to work.
Should you complete the form? You have to obey reasonable management instructions but giving personal information without knowing what it is required for or even who will see it doesn;t sound very reasonable. Definately get more information. And the data protection act may apply to who has access to that information
New contract terms have to be agreed by both parties. If you already have a contract you are entitled to stick to the one you already have. Complications arise if a Uniion has agreed the new terms on your behalf.
Definately get more advice either from a citizens advice or ACAS and if possible get a group together to put in a collective enquiry rather than just yourself.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I'm too annoyed to say anything sensible about it....
I'm off to join Liberty.........