Pre Employment Medical

[ottertherotter]

I was recently offered a relief position with a large social care organisation.
After receiving the offer the HR manager sent details of the next steps in the recruitment process.

One of the requirements was a 4 page medical questionnaire and exam to be carried out at my own cost. I declined to take/answer 3 questions on this form. One required a breast examination, another details of gynaecogical problems and the last details of any scars the candidate may have. I informed HR of my issues with these parts of the exam but that I had all other sections complete and all other documents requested ready.
The HR department rang to say that the would not accept the incomplete form and that they would not be taking my application any further. I queried the need for this information and was told that this was their standard form and all candidates had to fill it in, in full. I then queried why only female candidates were required to provide such personal information and was told 'o don't worry men have to provide information too'.

Can a company legally ask these details of female employees only and do I have any basis for making a complaint to their head office?
Thanks

[missingmumxox]

OH MY GOD! take the form to a solicitor and get the HR to clarify in writing, be nice about it make up some ball about I want to make sure I get this right.
and the at your own cost..this would raise alarm bells for me, even if the first bit hadn't already, it shouldn't be at your cost.

this sound like a company you don't want to work for, I am absolutely horrified, at their lack of basic knowledge of the Equality Act and also it is entirely useless? breast exams before the menopores will almost always throw up lumps as that is normal, which is why memograms are not done routinely in the UK before 50, the mind boggles it really does!

the only thing I can think of having gone through the same with My DH is this is an American company? I wrote a polite letter to their HR in the USA explaining exactly why uin the UK we would find it almost imposible to comply with their reasonable completely rediculious requests and enclosed qall the rejection letter's I could amass from OH companies.

[EBearhug]

Is private healthcare part of the package? But even if it is, the forms should still be optional (you don't have to take the healthcare), and should be with the healthcare provider rather than HR.

[ottertherotter]

Thanks for the replies.

Ebearhug- no, healthcare is not part of the package. As the position is relief cover for holidays and staff sick leave there are absolutely no benefits whatsoever.

They were adamant that every single question on the form had to be complete or it would not be accepted.

[EBearhug]

In that case, I can't see why they would need that level of information. It's one thing knowing about conditions they might have to make reasonable adjustments for, but this I would have thought crosses a line. I'd definitely be checking with ACAS or someone.

It would make me wary of what they would be like ss an employer, and if I had other options, I'd be tempted to tell them to sod off.

[Musicaltheatremum]

I'm horrified at this. As a GP I get frequent letters from HR asking for medical details and I always hone the patient as they have frequently given consent to. This but when I phone they do not appreciate that they have given consent for all their medical history to be disclosed. So I politely decline.

There is no need to fill in this form. By all means go for a medical and the medical person there can ask questions and give a "no problems" letter to your employer. And breast exams are a waste of time done by anyone other than the "breast holder" themselves as there are often lumps and bumps found.
Angry on your behalf.

[ottertherotter]

Musicaltheatremum- This happened approximately 5 weeks ago. When I spoke to their HR department they made it very clear that unless i consented to the breast exam and fully completed the form they would not even consider taking my application any further.

I am still very very annoyed about it especially since my query about why only female candidates were expected to provide such information was answered with nonsense about males also having to submit to their own tests. This was despite the fact that the woman had said only one minute previously that this was their standard form and had been approved by x advisor to their company? I don't know where to go from here. I would quite like to challenge them over this issue although I don't think I could accept their job even if they relented after this.

[Queenofknickers]

My understanding is that these questionnaires are to allowed any more under the Equality Act 2010. Totally unacceptable!!