What are the rules and regulations about asking whether someone's health will hinder their ability to do the job they are being interviewed for?
I know you cannot ask if a woman is pregnant, but are there ways to pose a question that is within the boundaries that will tell you what you want to know?
Lisa Birch
2 Responses
Previous illness
In some application forms you are asked to inidcate how much time and the number of instances you have had as illness in the last year. This can then form the basis of investigating further.
You may also be able to ask if there are any special requirements or things that would need to be implemented (on the client side)to ensure the candidate would be able to perform the tasks required.
Always ask
As policy we always ask candidates how many days absence due to illness they have taken in the last 2 years. This is factual information that you can check quite legally with references.
This question can then be further explored if you feel there is cause for concern.