Pre-employment fitness tests

[mhampe]

Has anyone been subjected to having to complete a pre-employment fitness test given out by a physical therapist? They make you write down all your diagnosis, medications, operations ect and then put you through a hour course of treadmill climbing 8 flights of stairs, lifting 55lb boxes, squats, and a whole group of crap that has nothing to do with your job.

I completed one of these fitness tests doing everything they told me to do and sometimes even more. Only to be told I failed it because the person giving the test lied on the file stating I sat down between tests, which I did because she said I could. I lost a really good 55,000 job because of some idiot who says I cant do the job that I have been doing for the past 20 years.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Sheesh, do they want a nurse or an athlete?

I've noticed that an increasing number of companies require some sort of physical capabilities test, but the ones I've seen just put the candidate through a short course, like having them walk up and down a couple flights of stairs and lift 50 lbs. And I've noted that there is more interest in a candidate's medical history.

Personally, I have a problem with the latter, and wouldn't work for a company that demands to know my medical history. One's diagnoses, meds etc. are privileged information protected by HIPAA, and thus none of an employer's business. I'm pretty sure you and I both know that they use such information to weed out all but the 'healthiest' candidates.....otherwise, why would they ask?

I think you dodged a bullet here. If they didn't hire you because you sat down between tests of your athleticism and endurance, who knows what they would've required of you once you were on board. There's a job out there with your name on it.....just keep trying.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Yeah, I was going to say that's none of their business to know you medical hx- Hipaa!!!!

I wonder if one could get legal advice on that one.

Altho I wouldnt want to work for that company. they sound like they'll look for any reason to boot you out .

One has to wonder if this is age-discriminatory - really, is someone who is 40 or 50 expected to have the same fitness as a 20 yr old??Like op said- that degree of fitness isnt what we do in our jobs.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Totally agree with PPs!!! IMO, requiring you to undergo this level of scrutiny is a violation of privacy. OSHA guidelines have changed re: patient lift loads. It is now only 35 lbs & they strongly recommend use of mechanical lifts for any non-ambulatory patients.

We are required to list all 'physical & functional requirements' on job descriptions. Prior to making a job offer, you are supposed to be asked whether you can fulfill all of those requirements. Employers are not automatically privy to all of our health history - only information that could affect whether we can do the job.... and that is a voluntary disclosure.

There is no way to avoid some level of age discrimination if this type of physical exam is used in the hiring process. It doesn't seem like a very wise decision.