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Post by annabella on May 28, 2015 14:10:51 GMT
I have two friends with it, one stays on her meds and is perfectly normal and the other doesn't believe he needs the meds and has all kinds of problems. This morning on the Today show Demi Lovato was talking about how she has it and it reminded me of something I wanted to discuss with the peas. I'm applying for jobs right now and a lot of applications have a form asking me to voluntarily declare my disabilities, and they list bi-polar as a disability. To you think this is something people should have to declare? I feel bad for my one friend to have to declare this when she is stabilized and had no issues in 10 years. I know they say they wouldn't hold it against you, but I think they would. What do you think?
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 11:28:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 14:13:14 GMT
I would never voluntarily disclose that information to my employer. Ever. The only way I would would be via medical forms to HR if I needed accommodations. Otherwise it is none of their business.
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Post by alittleintrepid on May 28, 2015 14:15:17 GMT
I think that many HR employees and hiring managers have biases and would hold it against you even if it is not the company policy to do so.
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Gravity
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,233
Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on May 28, 2015 14:19:07 GMT
I would never voluntarily disclose that information to my employer. Ever. The only way I would would be via medical forms to HR if I needed accommodations. Otherwise it is none of their business. I agree. It is too easy for an employer to pre-screen applicants and disqualify you based on the disclosure of bi-polar or any other mental illness. Many people base their "knowledge" of such things on what they've seen in movies or horror stories they have seen or read.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,947
Jun 26, 2014 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by peppermintpatty on May 28, 2015 14:25:17 GMT
Wow, really? I would think that is an invasion of privacy and none of their damn business. I wouldn't disclose that. Just like I won't disclose that I suffer from depression every so often.
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Post by anonrefugee on May 28, 2015 14:31:48 GMT
Hmmm. I imagine for many non-security clearance jobs it's about employer CYA .
They possibly aren't as responsible if someone causes a problem, and lied about their condition.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 11:28:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 14:36:31 GMT
I'm not in the US but it would be against the law here unless it would be intrinsic to the job......as an example have you a disability/health requirement that would be detrimental to your ability to climb ladders if you're applying to become a fire officer type of question.
They are allowed to ask if there are any " adjustments to every day needs" because of disability/health for you to able to do your job AFTER you have been offered the said job but not before.
I agree with the other posters, unless it is intrinsic to your ability to do certain jobs it's non of their business. It's an open opportunity for certain employers to abuse the equality/discrimination laws. I assume the US have certain laws in place covering both.
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hmv_ladybug
Shy Member
Posts: 36
Jun 27, 2014 7:42:31 GMT
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Post by hmv_ladybug on May 28, 2015 14:45:00 GMT
I don't know about on a job application, but recently where I work they have added a voluntary self disclosure of disability where we enter our time card info. It has something to do with being able to track employment stats of people with disabilities and they consider all physical and mental factors. Even having had cancer in the past counts, but they don't ask on it what the disability is. Just to self id if you do/have had a disability.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 11:28:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 14:47:36 GMT
I'm not in the US but it would be against the law here unless it would be intrinsic to the job......as an example have you a disability/health requirement that would be detrimental to your ability to climb ladders if you're applying to become a fire officer type of question. They are allowed to ask if there are any " adjustments to every day needs" because of disability/health for you to able to do your job AFTER you have been offered the said job but not before. I agree with the other posters, unless it is intrinsic to your ability to do certain jobs it's non of their business. It's an open opportunity for certain employers to abuse the equality/discrimination laws. I assume the US have certain laws in place covering both. Yes they can't force you to answer here. It would be illegal.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 28, 2015 14:54:10 GMT
I think part of it is because some businesses receive kickbacks or some kind of credit for hiring people with disabilities, regardless of what those disabilities are. But I still wouldn't disclose it because I think there might be a real potential for bias.
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Post by annabella on May 28, 2015 14:56:57 GMT
The "voluntarily form" has a box where you can decline to answer. It also lists things like cancer, HIV, diabetes, depression, PTSD.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 11:28:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 14:58:06 GMT
I'm not in the US but it would be against the law here unless it would be intrinsic to the job......as an example have you a disability/health requirement that would be detrimental to your ability to climb ladders if you're applying to become a fire officer type of question. They are allowed to ask if there are any " adjustments to every day needs" because of disability/health for you to able to do your job AFTER you have been offered the said job but not before. I agree with the other posters, unless it is intrinsic to your ability to do certain jobs it's non of their business. It's an open opportunity for certain employers to abuse the equality/discrimination laws. I assume the US have certain laws in place covering both. Yes they can't force you to answer here. It would be illegal. I though it might be. They wouldn't be allowed to include such a question on the application form here to even answer voluntarily.
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julieb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,845
Jul 3, 2014 16:02:54 GMT
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Post by julieb on May 28, 2015 15:03:44 GMT
Such a horrible disease. I have a nephew who does not stay on his meds. It's incredibly hard and heartbreaking for his family. I don't think you should have to disclose it, but his employer did know because of missing work, etc. They were very supportive because when he was at work, he was an excellent employee.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 15:07:11 GMT
It's not right for them to ask (I think here it would be illegal to ask at all, even if it was under the guise of being voluntary), and I would not encourage anyone to be honest if presented with a question like that. I don't believe that the majority of employers would be understanding, and would hire someone without a mental illness over someone who voluntarily declared they did have one (using another valid reason as an excuse for not hiring).
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Post by jeremysgirl on May 28, 2015 15:21:41 GMT
I have bipolar and I would never disclose it. Once I have worked for someone for a while I will talk about it. I am pretty open about it. But I would never disclose it on an application or during an interview. Not until someone has seen what kind of worker I am and has already judged me based on my abilities will I say anything. It seems everyone knows someone with bipolar and there's such a stigma attached to it. I am completely compliant with my meds and live a relatively normal life, so I don't want to be prejudged by an employer.
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Post by peano on May 28, 2015 15:29:06 GMT
The "voluntarily form" has a box where you can decline to answer. It also lists things like cancer, HIV, diabetes, depression, PTSD. In addition to hiring bias, this just seems like a sneaky way to determine if a potential hire will cause the company's medical insurance costs to increase.
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Post by bc2ca on May 28, 2015 15:35:16 GMT
I would never voluntarily provide medical history information on an application form.
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Post by jeremysgirl on May 28, 2015 15:37:42 GMT
The "voluntarily form" has a box where you can decline to answer. It also lists things like cancer, HIV, diabetes, depression, PTSD. In addition to hiring bias, this just seems like a sneaky way to determine if a potential hire will cause the company's medical insurance costs to increase. I did not even think about that possibility. But it could totally be. My meds are very expensive and there's no way I could afford them without insurance.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on May 28, 2015 23:42:15 GMT
I'm not in the US but it would be against the law here unless it would be intrinsic to the job......as an example have you a disability/health requirement that would be detrimental to your ability to climb ladders if you're applying to become a fire officer type of question. They are allowed to ask if there are any " adjustments to every day needs" because of disability/health for you to able to do your job AFTER you have been offered the said job but not before. I agree with the other posters, unless it is intrinsic to your ability to do certain jobs it's non of their business. It's an open opportunity for certain employers to abuse the equality/discrimination laws. I assume the US have certain laws in place covering both. Yes they can't force you to answer here. It would be illegal. But, on the other hand, lying on an application would be grounds for termination.... IF they ever found out ( you all know how we hate lying liars that lie here!!)
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Post by greenlegume on May 28, 2015 23:47:01 GMT
But if they term it as a voluntary disclosure, I don't think they could do anything to you for refusing to answer. ?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 23:50:54 GMT
Yes they can't force you to answer here. It would be illegal. But, on the other hand, lying on an application would be grounds for termination.... IF they ever found out ( you all know how we hate lying liars that lie here!!) I don't think so. Because it is illegal to discriminate for health reasons. And honestly even asking is walking a very fine line.
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tincin
Drama Llama
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on May 29, 2015 1:15:19 GMT
Yes they can't force you to answer here. It would be illegal. But, on the other hand, lying on an application would be grounds for termination.... IF they ever found out ( you all know how we hate lying liars that lie here!!) If they are asking for you to voluntarily reveal your conditions and you choose not to do so, it is not lying. It is refusing to voluntarily disclose which is not the same as being a lying liar who lies.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 11:28:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 1:16:50 GMT
I would never disclose anything and I can't imagine it is legal to ask here.
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on May 29, 2015 13:36:45 GMT
Employers have/could have catastrophic payouts because of employee instability--think of the airline pilot that guided the plane into the alps.
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Post by jmurray on May 29, 2015 13:56:44 GMT
Employers have/could have catastrophic payouts because of employee instability--think of the airline pilot that guided the plane into the alps. It's a slippery slope citing excamples like this to justify asking all applicants for all jobs about their health. I strongly disagree with them even asking about it on a form, unless there is a valid reason that it could put people's lives at risk. In the case you mentioned it may well be justified for a pilot, but it's also entirely possible conditions arise after a person is hired. That is why some jobs require medical tests every year (which pilots used to do - not sure if that's still the case but I would hope so). The "opt out" feature doesn't sit well with me either. If you tick that box it leaves you open to be suspected of hiding something, as in "why didn't they answer? Is it because they have one of these conditions? Is it because they're anti-establishment / rules?" Some people could read whatever they like into that, and IMO it's borderline discriminatory.
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Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 11:28:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2015 14:03:42 GMT
Employers have/could have catastrophic payouts because of employee instability--think of the airline pilot that guided the plane into the alps. No just no. It is none of an employers business in 95% of jobs.
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Post by jeremysgirl on May 29, 2015 14:25:00 GMT
Employers have/could have catastrophic payouts because of employee instability--think of the airline pilot that guided the plane into the alps. Here's the problem, you are assuming I am unstable because I have a mental illness. I have a very well-controlled mental illness, I am no more unstable than anyone else. In fact, I'm probably less unstable because not only am I properly medicated, I have also had years of therapy to learn how to handle my illness as well. There have been only two times when I have been going through medication changes that my illness has taken me out of work. Much less impact to my work than the person who is constantly ill with colds and such. The people you have to worry about are not the ones who know they have a mental illness and who are taking steps to treat it. It's the others, unmedicated, undiagnosed that you need to fear.
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Post by scraphollie27 on May 29, 2015 14:41:24 GMT
Seems like the applicant is screwed either way. Opt out and be judged as hiding something or be honest and have your application land in the trash because of a potential HR bias.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on May 29, 2015 14:54:25 GMT
Yes they can't force you to answer here. It would be illegal. But, on the other hand, lying on an application would be grounds for termination.... IF they ever found out ( you all know how we hate lying liars that lie here!!) You wouldn't lie.. you would just decline to provide that information. I would NEVER disclose that if I was asked.
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Post by annabella on May 29, 2015 14:55:37 GMT
Normally this is part of the online application, but I applied for one job and the recruiter then emailed me saying since they're government contractors he would like me to fill out this voluntarily form. I had to laugh because if you take the time to email me to do something extra, clearly it's not voluntarily. lol
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