Can they renege on an offer?? Health question.

katherine100, LPN · Apr 29, 2010

Yes jobs can reneg on an offer. However you most likely will not know the reason if they do. Most places that do this will say the job is no longer available or somthing has come up (meaning they found someone internally, the position closed, etc). Its up to you whether or not you want to give out your medical info. If i were you, I would let them know about the diabetes (should anything ever happen to you while at work).

I was offered a job. I really need this job. I have to do a pre-employment physical. It asks 'do you have OR have you ever had the following' and you have to check it off.
What if you are pre-diabetic?? It says DIABETES. I am not on any meds. and do not test my blood sugars. My doc. tells me I can control it and keep from progressing with diet and exercise. Should I check it off??
Also... I am on a betablocker for fast heart rate. Used to have an MVP. That has healed itself and I no longer have MVP. I still take the betablocker. It says 'have you ever had' and lists HEART TROUBLES. Should I check it off?? I never really had "HEART TROUBLES" per say. I am not technically diabetic either and take no meds.
I don't want to mislead anyone. I also don't want them to renege on the job offer if they see DIABETES and HEART TROUBLES. I am not sure what to do........>>>>>

LouisVRN, RN · Apr 29, 2010

I would fully disclose and include a short description of the problem. I checked that I had had previous problems with blood pressure because I was pre-eclamptic. When I went in for my physical though I just explained that, they checked my blood pressure and that was it.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 29, 2010

I would not start any job by being dishonest. This may be a requirement of their group insurance company but I doubt the questions would be the sole reason for not hiring anyone.

roser13, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2010

You have not been diagnosed with diabetes. I would check no.

MVP is a very common cardiac issue and is not commonly thought of as "heart troubles." I would not check "heart troubles."

Your med list will show the beta blocker. It will not show a diabetic agent. Responding as I have suggested will be considered "full disclosure."

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Apr 30, 2010

I would say no to diabetes and yes to heart issues. If you are still taking meds it counts.

I have in the past said no when I should have said yes, but knew I would lose the job if they ever found out I lied, and I was willing to live with that. You have to know your own boundaries and respect them sometimes.

cb_rn · Apr 30, 2010

I would not say you are diabetic as you are not diagnosed with nor doing anything to treat diabetes save a sensible diet and exercise (which is something we should all attempt anyway). Taking a beta blocker as a rate controller IMHO isn't traditional heart trouble but better to disclose just in case. Check heart trouble and jot a note about rate control and resolved MVP. A related note, some hospitals do not take the pre-physical as seriously as others - but I have known a couple of good friends to get denied jobs they were banking on because of a loused up knee and previous back surgery. Those are a little more subject to fear of injury or disablity than a fast heart rate though, so don't stress it.

PediLove2147, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2010

I agree with the post saying no to the diabetes and yes to the heart troubles. I don't think you should have to say yes to diabetes until you are actually diagnosed.

shiccy · Apr 30, 2010

In many states it is illegal to discriminate for a preexisting medical condition unless it will completely interfere with your job expectations.

I've never heard of an employer pulling an offer off the table for something like that. The reason they're asking is for a few reasons, but one of them may be simply because they want to make sure you can DO your job. For example, if you're going for an OR position, but are not able to stand for more than 30 minutes at a time, that may be a problem or something you need remedied before employment. Also if you're going for a job at UPS/Fedex and can't lift anything greater than 10#, you're not going to be able to satisfy the terms of your employment.

If they were going to hold it against you, however, you typically are notified prior to being hired / getting your physical. For example, for the above mentioned, UPS job, they actually have it as a checkbox "Are you able to lift 50# over your head on a continued basis".

If you've signed your paperwork, also, you're technically and probably being terminated illegally.

Finally millions upon MILLIONS of Americans not only have cardiac issues but also diabetic ones as well.

If I were in your shoes and was "prediabetic" then I would state with certainty that I DON'T have diabetes. If I had a history of mitral valve prolapse or are taking prophylactic beta-blockers, I would definitely say I would have a cardiac issue.

Good luck with your new job!

Michigan · Apr 30, 2010

Always answer truthfully. Most places I've worked at (been on both sides of the table) you also are seen by a Dr. for the physical and you can ask questions then. Be aware the physical is confidental- probadly no one you actually work with will know anything you marked-as the poster who commented about DM and having a problem while at work. If you have a medical problem that may occur while at work, please find a couple trusted people and let them know, should something happen at work.

Jules A, MSN · Apr 30, 2010

Definitely get a written offer in hand before disclosing any health issues just in case but it would be very difficult for them to discriminate against you based on what you have written here. Good luck.

TDCHIM · May 1, 2010

Employers can play dirty and it can be incredibly hard to prove when it comes to this sort of thing (just because it's illegal doesn't mean it doesn't happen). Given that you are still being medicated, I'd probably advise that you check the heart issue box and give a brief and soothing explanation, but I think you can give the diabetes box the go-by. However, I definitely agree with the earlier poster who suggested you alert one or two trusted co-workers in the relatively near future about the remote possibility of a blood sugar issue.