Employee Health Questionnaire

[Neilh]

Hello

Apologies if this has been posted previously, I did try searching and nothing came back (when the search facility worked!).

I've recently accepted an offer of employment from a large company and of course the paperwork to fill in soon hit the door mat. Part of the pre-employment paper work is a health questionare.

Whilst I appreaciate a future employer wanting and needing to know certain health issues of the employee that may affect their employment (i.e upcoming operations, sickness in the previus twelve months, physical problems etc), a few of the qeustions of the form seem a little probing. I have nothing to hide but there are a few questions on the form that relate to what I consider highly sensitive issues relating to my health several years ago which a) never affected my work at the time/when they occured and b) certainly wouldnt now. The form when I applied for BUPA was less detailed!

What can they legally ask for? There is no statement of how the information will be used only that it will be kept confidential and i agree to a health screen with occupational health if necessary. One question asks if i'm a smoker, since im not then this question isnt an issue but i was under the impression they werent allowed to ask such questions?

Neil

[M-C Hoare]

I suggest you contact ACAS as they are the experts at all things employment.
Marie

[.Spiralling.]

In education, this sort of questionnaire is standard practice. Generally you have to complete one for every teaching post you get. I've never had one which goes back to the employer, but to the OH dept of the County Council who review it and decide if an OH appt is needed. They don't pass details of the answers to the school, and if an OH appt is needed, all that is sent to the employer is what steps they can take to help the employee perform their duties.

[sjbeale]

These questionnaires are becoming standard practice for many companies. The information is kept confidential and an occupational health nurse won't ask to see you unless there is something of conern on the questionaire.

[profitxchange]

This may be as part of the information needed to qualify for sickness/disability,death in service insurance that the company may have for staff. I would not consider it an issue other than the lack of any statement as to what the info is for. If you fail to declare you may well fall foul of diciplinary action later if they find out.