Should i declare an upcoming operation at a job interview?

[MontyVeda]

I'm currently looking for another job, and I'm also waiting for a hernia operation.

Would i be obliged to tell a prospective employer that A; i have a hernia and B; the op is likely to be in the next few months?

I believe in honesty and openness but I also believe that such information would jeopardise my chances of success.

What do you all reckon?

 

[Adam4868]

Personally I'd wait until I got the job or at least offered it.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Wot @Adam4868 says. I don't think you should let it bother you unless you get an offer, and then you might want to consider it.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

As soon as you get the offer, tell them. Imagine if it was your business.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Bear in mind that there might be a probationary period before all of your employment rights kick in fully (I'm pretty ignorant of this so find someone who isn't) and it might be that if you were to accept an offer, then disclose your position, they might be in a position to reply "oops, you did not pass your probationary period. Bye".

But all this is moot until an offer appears.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Does the job include manual work that will be impacted by the hernia? if not, as a prospective employer I wouldn't be bothered, but I would prefer to know at the interview stage, purely because it shows you are being open and honest with me.

I'd be interested to know how long you would be expecting to be off work, I'd let you know that under our rules you wouldn't get occupational sick pay, but it wouldn't stop me offering you the job.

If you genuinely think it would harm your chances, then keep stum until you are offered a position, but a decent employer will not hold it against you, finding good staff is bloody hard and a bit of inconvenience at the beginning is nothing for getting the right person.

 

[Drago]

Openness and honesty are all the rage these days.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When I was part of the interview panel for a big company we were told how to respond to this

The main point was that we were recruiting someone , hopefully, for a significant number of years
there a situation where they have a longer than usual period after the resign from their current job
or, as here, they will have to have a week or so off or on light duties, shortly after they start

are pretty irrelevant
and agreeing to it easily creates a good impression of their new company when they start which can be worth a lot

other companies had different concepts of how to treat employees - including (to my shock!) a lot of schools!
(note - not ones I worked in but I would certainly include the one my daughter was a pupil in - the Head is currently in jail!!)

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I wouldn't disclose this info at the interview stage, what if you don't get the job?
You would have told them your personal business for nothing!
Ops can be routinely postponed, even more than once: you might not get your op for another good few months.

 

[PaulSB]

Are your current employers aware that you're waiting for the hernia operation? I imagine the answer is yes. Surely then it's reasonable for a potential new employer to have the same information?

Stepping back a bit, in 1994 I successfully interviewed for the last job (22 years) in my working life. At the interview I disclosed I would be away on a three week visit to New Zealand about three months after starting. It wasn't a problem.

As the potential employer I would be disappointed if you did not disclose the operation at interview.

 

[annedonnelly]

It's an interesting discussion. A woman doesn't have to tell a prospective employer she's pregnant at the interview stage and if she does they're not allowed to discriminate against her.

Recovery from a hernia operation shouldn't impact the job as much as maternity leave. I'd say that you should be entitled to the same level of respect and privacy.

I don't think you need to tell them but if you decide to, because you want to be upfront about it, I'd say something like "... but I know you're not going to discriminate against me because of it".

 

[Drago]

Just remember for once you're in a job...

The only persons entitled to information about your medical situation is a doctor, a doctor, and a doctor. If Human Remains aren't clinically qualified they are not lawfully entitled to have knowledge of or store information about matters relating to your health.

Even if you choose to inform them they are not entitled to store medical information about you. The information commissioner gets jolly batey if they do,

Oh they'll ask alright, and theyll stick their noses in and even try and insist, but there is no law that gives them that entitlement. I was most upset when I discovered Human Remains were doing this and I dont think they learned a thing from having to pay me compensation and a fine to ICO for doing so.

Sickness absense and injury at work records is all they are allowed to store under normal circumstances. They can absolutely go no further than that with storing/processing your medical information unless there is a specific need identified to satisfy GDPR, such as assisting you with in insurance or ill health pension claim, etc. Beyond that they aren't entitled to knowledge of your personal medical situation and cant store/process your data. Sadly Human Remains little brains really do struggle with this simple concept and corporate meltdowns and tantrums often arise out of their frustration - all grist to the tribunal mill.

 

[Lookrider]

As soon as you get the offer, tell them. Imagine if it was your business.

Yes exactly this
Imagine if it WERE YOUR BUSINESS
Would you not expect honesty up front and not after a deal may have been struck
I maybe your honestly will work to your advantage or they may say well I can slot you in a later date after your op and recovery
You maybe need to consider your team mates as well ...it maybe hard to jell if you introduce your selves and they are glad of your help for you to say I'm only here a short time and then away on the sick ...therefore more workload to them
You know how it is ...workmates see the negative side before the positive
Pre booked holidays and ops are part of what HR may expect at interviews anyways
Sell yourself beyond your hernia

 

[MontyVeda]

thanks for the replies guys. I think I'll inform them should I get an offer, but not beforehand.

 

[MontyVeda]

I now have a date for both the hernia op and the job interview.
Interview on the Friday, op on the following Monday.
If i do get an offer it'll be a few weeks before the start date when i should be back on my feet so shouldn't be an issue.