Job seeking and your health

Let's say, hypothetically, you are out of work and also undergoing cancer treatments. Now let's say a job opportunity arises. Should you tell the potential employer what is going on with your treatment?

What if an interview or potential start date conflict with the cancer treatment?

Let's say it's a very treatable form of cancer so you don't anticipate any issues once past the treatment.

If you were hiring someone, would that make you not want to hire him? Would you be pissed if you did hire him and then found out he didn't disclose it during the interview process?

 

Hmm. I've seen something like this before.

If you are a good person and want to respect your decisions, I'd say you tell the employer the basics about the situation and see what happens.

If you are a weasel not entirely honest, then you would keep the whole thing a secret, get hired, and then disclose it. Not sure how the company would react, but I doubt it would be good.

 

That's hella personal and I wouldn't fault anyone for any answer. I guess I'd probably let them know that I have a personal health issue that might cause me to miss the occasional day, but not disclose what it was.

 

You do not need to disclose a health issue. Your health is your damn business.

If you tell them you need to change an interview or a start date because of a cancer treatment they will not hire you.

Just say you have a conflict.

Don't be stupid. Hypothetically.

 

Hmm, so I've got "stupid" for telling and "weasel" for not telling.

Keep 'em coming.

 

I'd say there's never anything wrong with staying mum about a health issue. It's enough of a problem on its own; why let it affect this, too?

Oh, and I wish a speedy recovery to whomever this thread references.

 

Editor: we'd like to bring you in for an interview next week.
Prospect: thanks, but I can't make it. How about in three weeks?

That isn't a huge negative red flag for an employer?

 

"Yes" to both questions, speaking frankly.

 

Maybe, but you're under no obligation to disclose it. As log as you are able to work the days needed and perform the duties of the job, the company can't say anything. Just find out their sick leave policy.

I'm a hiring manager and I've worked for places that wouldn't touch a candidate with a preexisting condition, particularly if there is a comparable candidate as a fallback.

Don't say anything, my friend.

 

So you just called someone with cancer a weasel?

You are not allowed to ask about health, marriage, politics, gay or straight, pregnant or wanting to have more kids, race, religion and a handful of other things when conducting a proper interview.

If you ask for another interview date, that is a different matter, and it probably would disqualify you from an interview.

 

And what would happen if the candidate knew they were disqualified for health reasons?