Employee Health Questions

Published

Specializes in Primary Care, LTC, Private Duty.

This first question just caught me off guard as silly:

Has anyone else ever had an employee health form ask them about hobbies/leisure activities? This is a first for me!

Also, is it mandatory to disclose run-of-the-mill anxiety/depression? I'm doing better than ever and I'm not even taking any medications or undergoing therapy at the moment, despite several stressful life events, but I'm also painfully aware of the stigma surrounding mental health issues, even over something as common as depression and anxiety...and I'd hate to start off on the wrong foot with this new company.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Primary Care, LTC, Private Duty.

Well, I answered my own question for part 2: upon closer inspection of the form, it says they can request your medical records and that if you decline or are found to have omitted anything then that can be grounds for dismissal. So I guess everything has to be out in the open.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
5 hours ago, River&MountainRN said:

Well, I answered my own question for part 2: upon closer inspection of the form, it says they can request your medical records and that if you decline or are found to have omitted anything then that can be grounds for dismissal. So I guess everything has to be out in the open.

UNBELIEVABLE. ?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Back in my CNA days I had an employer ask for my med list. I don’t remember any clause like yours had, and honestly I would be very uncomfortable working for a place like that. All they need to know is are you capable of performing the job duties — I don’t give anyone permission to access my records unless it is beneficial for my healthcare. In the case of my CNA job, **** no I didn’t list my antidepressant. It was none of their business because my depression and PTSD don’t affect my job performance — and I take my own privacy rights as seriously as my pts’

For the leisure activities I would probably say something like “Yes I have them.” Any employer that would require my PHI can’t be trusted not to make up an issue with my leisure activities.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been asked about hobbies / leisure activities during interviews before. I believe the real question is do you have a healthy life style and effective outlets for dealing with stress?

I believe I said I something general about loving yoga and long walks in national parks. Answer was greeted with smiles and nods.

As for the question about your medical history. I would read the exact wording very carefully. Are they asking about current issues / medications or history of? I'm always careful to not give information I wasn't specifically asked for. In fact I probably wouldn't tell them anything they won't find out during the pre employment health screening.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Primary Care, LTC, Private Duty.
7 hours ago, kp2016 said:

I have been asked about hobbies / leisure activities during interviews before. I believe the real question is do you have a healthy life style and effective outlets for dealing with stress?

I believe I said I something general about loving yoga and long walks in national parks. Answer was greeted with smiles and nods.

As for the question about your medical history. I would read the exact wording very carefully. Are they asking about current issues / medications or history of? I'm always careful to not give information I wasn't specifically asked for. In fact I probably wouldn't tell them anything they won't find out during the pre employment health screening.

Unfortunately it's worded "do you, or have you ever had...", so I'm trying to think of creative ways to answer-but-not-answer if you know what I mean.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
6 minutes ago, River&MountainRN said:

Unfortunately it's worded "do you, or have you ever had...", so I'm trying to think of creative ways to answer-but-not-answer if you know what I mean.

It does occur to me that just because they ask for this information and state they “may request” your medical history, it does not necessarily mean they have any legal right to obtain this information.

Unless it’s information they would obtain through a pre employment physical or drug screen I probably wouldn’t volunteer it. If it becomes a problem later on I would deal with that issue when it becomes an issue.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Unless you sign a release form, they absolutely cannot get your medical records. I do get all my healthcare done through different hospital systems so they do not have access to my personal medical info.

For my employment physical I was told I had to disclose every med I had taken in the last 30 days including Tylenol. That was so bogus. I told them of any med that could possibly show up on a UA that I would need to show a script for. It’s not their business that I had a UTI 2 weeks ago and took an antibiotic and ibuprofen. I did take a narcotic at the time. I disclosed it, they asked for my script, and that was the end of it.

I think HR people who don’t know crap word those things.

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion