Do you have to declare Endometriosis to new employer?

[BethanyAnn]

I’m starting a new job on Monday (8th) but I have the Friday (12th) off for an appointment at the hospital with a gynaecologist. I believe I will be told that I need a cystoscopy and possibly another laparoscopy.

My new employer hasn’t given me a medical form or asked if I have any conditions to declare. They know I have an appointment but they don’t know where or what for.

What should I do? Should I wait and see if the gynaecologist says I need more tests/treatment and then tell my new employer if that’s the case? Or, even if the gynaecologist doesn’t want to do any tests or treatment, do I still have to declare that I have Endometriosis anyway? Or, can I just not tell my new employer?

My previous employer wasn’t very understanding and they definitely stretched the boundaries of what’s acceptable before it becomes discrimination. I’m nervous about making my new employer annoyed if I need time off for an operation and making them think I’ll be off sick a lot.

Thank you in advance! 🙂

[Puttingonaface]

If they dont ask dont say anything till after app when you may know what plan is.

[Starry]

You are not legally obliged to , unless it were a condition that put people at risk or affects your ability to do the job. ( Doctor's have to disclose certain medical conditions for example or drivers and epilipsy)

You need to weigh up if there are any benefits of disclosure eg if your condition has lasted long enough to be considered a disability you could ask for reasonable adjustments.

Personally I always erred in the side of caution and left it to the last minute to give myself time to establish myself in the role for a few months and hopefully start demonstrating some value first, but that's just me not trusting my employers

m.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?ar...

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I made an internal move just as I was diagnosed with Endo. And didn't mention it, not least because I thought it was a case of a quick op and done. I just told her Id had a small complication after a minor procedure which delayed my start date by a week.

Unfortunately I was diagnosed with stage 4 and it didn't work out like that, a year on and I'm about to make my second attempt at a return to work after my op.

I came clean about 2 months later when I was about to start chemical treatments , fatigue started to affect me badly and I knew a second procedure was looking likely . She was put out at first, I had to explain how Id not realised the situation myself but ever since has been fantastic. I doubt I'd have been offered the job if I'd disclosed at interview as it was a close decision with another candidate.

Good luck deciding

[Dee11]

You’re not obliged to, but personally I’d be talking to them after my appt. If they know that there’s something going on then they’re more likely to be understanding and supportive on days where you don’t feel your best, or if the time does come that you need surgery then it won’t be as big a shock. It might also give them a bit of time to understand Endo a bit better rather than possibly being hit with I need time off for surgery, look here’s the condition I have, and not getting a chance to look at it properly because they’re too busy trying to cover your time off. If you explain to them that it doesn’t necessarily mean time off sick but (depending on what plan your gynae sets out for you) you may need time off for an appt here and here.

It may also help if the team you’re working with know (once you get to know them) so that they can help and support you too.

If you don’t feel that you can sit down and talk to your manager yet, why don’t you even look at if they have an occupational health service? You can self refer to these as well, and that way you can explain your worries to them and they can then prepare a report ensuring your manager is told all the relevant details and whether they can expect a high absence rate or not. They might be able to put your mind at ease x