Medical Info

Significant alterations have been made in the Equality Bill this week, and it has been proposed that telling candidates to fill up health questionnaires before employment is unjust. The changes in the bill were introduced in the House of Lords.

As per the changes, it would be deemed illegal for employers to question job candidates about their health condition. It is believed that asking candidates about their health is unnecessary when the candidates are applying for a job that has got nothing to do with their being physically (or mentally) perfect.

In Clause 60 of the Equality Bill, it has been clearly stated that except for certain situations, a company should not make enquiries about a candidate’s health. Health enquiries can be made only after the candidate has faced and cleared an interview. Thus, health should not be the sole criteria for judging whether a person can appear for an interview or not. Every person has the right to appear before the interview panel and prove their merit, irrespective of whether they are physically and mentally fit or not.

Rethink’s Director of Public Affairs Paul Corry said in this regard that the government’s new policy of debarring employers form enquiring about a candidate’s health can go a long way in saving applicants from facing awkward questions related to their physical abilities and their medical condition (if any).

According to Corry, candidates with a history of mental illness can now appear for an interview without being discriminated against. They can prove their merit and their abilities and show to their employers that they can be as productive as their colleagues who are mentally fit.

The CIPD Certificate in Employment Relations, Law and Practice (CERLAP) provides a firm foundation in all the areas of HR and employment law. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the law to allow organisations to set their own policies and procedures in context.