Sore back? Recovering from an accident? What should you tell the prospective employer during the interview process. Saying this could eliminate your chances.

“Just to let you know, I have a pre-existing back problem…”

Are you sure you want to disclose that information during the interview or recruiting process?

Pre-existing injuries or illnesses 

Some of our clients have medical problems, or have been injured and are unsure about how to talk about these items during the recruiting process. In order to understand how to approach this topic, we need to find out what has and could happen behind the scenes, when the interviewer decides on who is going to make it to the next round (ie. second interview, or job offer).

Most companies understand the serious implications of having to accommodate a worker, and some of these companies may decide not to hire you based on the assumed risk to productivity. If you have been injured on the job, or at home and have taken time off work with your current job, you may have noticed how the company treats you, and supports you (or lack of support). Some companies may even pressure their injured workers to return, or may try to find methods or excuses to terminate.

How to navigate through the recruiting process

You have a couple of options 1) you can disclose you have an injury or illness or 2) you can decide not to disclose the issue. We are protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act for some items, but it does not mean companies will abide by the law and it’s tough to prove if they discriminate based on the items listed in the Act.

Although we are not equipped to give you advice that could lead to legal issues/ramifications, we can provide some questions you can ask yourself in order to aid in your decision. a) will telling the company help my chances of getting to the next stage in the interview process b) should I wait until after the offer letter is signed to reveal the issue c) why should I have to tell them something that is protected under Canadian law d) should I apply to this job that requires heavy lifting, when I am unable to do this task. These are some questions that could help shape your strategy. If you have a complicate issue, you may need to seek legal representation.

So what do you think about revealing existing injuries or illnesses during the interview or recruitment process? Think it’s a good idea or do you have a story to tell about this happening to you or someone you know.

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