Essential Thombocytosis - Application Form Declaration

[Iregray]

Hello

I am a 36 year old woman diagnosed in Feb 2019 with JAK2 positive ET. I have worked for the same employer for 14years since graduating and I am considering applying for a new post with the same company albeit I would become self employed and hold a management position rather than be an employee. The application form asks about Disability and I had ticked no as whilst I have several medical conditions of which my blood cancer is one and these do impact my life I don’t regard myself as a disabled person. I am very worried I should change that to yes as I know cancer is classed a disability and if I am successful I don’t want them to say I failed to declare it on application and I am also worried that I wouldn’t be considered due to my having the ET. I haven’t posted since last winter when I was worried about my critical illness cover but I just am very worried thanks

[JojoWonder]

Hello,

I’m sorry that your ET is causing you all of this concern. Personally I wouldn’t worry about not disclosing it, yes ‘cancer’ can be regarded as a disability but my understanding is that with ET it is very difficult to obtain disability living allowance so to my mind I don’t consider it to be a disability in that sense. I think of my ET in line with type 1 diabetes. Serious but in most cases manageable. They aren’t allowed to discriminate against you because you have ET, it’s against the law.

Trust me also, they aren’t likely to know very much about the condition so I think you can play it as you see fit. If you feel you want to disclose it you can say that it is a non malignant cancer that is chronic but under control.

Personally I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Good luck and I wish you every success.

Best wishes,

Joanne x

[friendofpiglet]

I wouldn't worry whether you declare or not.

Many employers actually want to be able to declare a percentage of employees with disability to keep their ethical status in good shape.

I had a staff member who was type 1 diabetic, HR called him to ask him to register with them as having a disability. He was incandescent - didn't consider himself disabled at all!!

Andy

[Chaz1]

Whilst you don't have to declare it, at some point if something comes up that you need support with, be it particularly struggling with fatigue, change of meds etc... they won't necessarily be so supportive & you won't have much recourse because you haven't disclosed it previously. Whilst you don't consider it disabling you do have a condition that could have required shielding under Covid-19 if your health professionals had decided it. The law clearly states that you can't be overlooked for a job because of a disability but failure to disclose on an application form can be a difficult subject should it later come up. Particularly as you will have signed it to say it's all legally & factually correct. It's a sticky wicket but technically not putting it & then later bringing it up could put you at risk of breaking the rules. The best bet would be to discuss it with the employment team at MacMillian before you make a decision, especially to leave it off. It can all be very difficult down the line for things not disclosed even a disability, on an application form as you discount yourself from the protection of the Disability Act. Worth checking first.

[Jennytheb]

Hi, it is a bit difficult this one isn't it. Have you declared your ET on your say travel insurance? I did and was telephoned by the company covering and asked several questions as I don't think many are aware of this. I have been diagnosed JAK2 ET for 6 years now and can truly say that I lead a perfectly "normal life" even though are taking Hydroxycarbamide 3 daily now.

Any way during the conversation the insurance company cleared me OK but were a bit iffy with hubby's type 2 diabetes. I think that it would be good as someone suggested to discuss with Macmillan nurse.

Hope all goes well, that they consider your previous work with them and you get the job!

Jenny

[Ebot]

According to The Equality Act (UK - though not sure about Scotland and NI) a disability means a physical or a mental condition which has a substantial and long-term impact on your ability to do normal day to day activities.

There is clearly a distinction between ‘disease’ and ‘disability’. Having a disease is not necessarily disabling. I’m sure there are lots of us who consider some aspects of our MPNs ‘disabling’ at times but wouldn’t ever describe ourselves as ‘disabled’.

At the same time anti discrimination legislation in the U.K. prevents an employer from treating you less favourably because of the impact of your MPN. Again the Equality Act covers you if you have a progressive condition from the date of diagnosis even if you can currently carry out normal day to day activities.

I guess at this stage the question to ask yourself is ‘Do I need this company to make special adjustments to their / my normal work practices in order for me to do this job?” If, as I suspect, the answer is ‘no’ then the disability question isn’t relevant. It’s not asking whether you have any medical conditions of which they should be aware.

None of this would preclude you discussing any problems you might have because of your MPN if the need arises in the future.

Am sure someone here with HR / legal experience may be able to offer further insights.

[tracey13 in reply to Ebot]

I know that my husband is on our doctor's disability list all cancers are on this list.

[Wyebird]

I didn’t know cancer was classed as a disability. If you are not claiming disability in any way then I don’t think there is a need to declare it.

You have a chronic illness. Asthma and diabetes are also chronic illnesses. Do people with these conditions declare them?

Good luck

[JabON in reply to Wyebird]

from the point at which a cancer is diagnosed it is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.

[Wyebird in reply to JabON]

Gosh thank you xx

[JabON in reply to Wyebird]

Worth reading about your rights under the DDA and the responsibilities of your employer towards you. I was a HR manager and suspect there were employees who came under the DDA but didn't say anything . e.g dyslexia for which we could have put measures in place to help them and prevent issues with filling in forms correctly. If I had been working when I was diagnosed with ET I would have had to tell my boss. The fatigue in the afternoons for several months when I began Hydroxycarbamide would have prevented me from working at the pace I usually did but if I had rested I could have worked later in the day.

[Wyebird in reply to JabON]

Thank you/ I got diagnosed after retiring early. I couldn’t cope with working but I know I wouldn’t get pips either.

[Dovme]

if it were me l think l would get some advise. Perhaps the EASS? You can google them. This is from Acas might offer some perspective? archive.acas.org.uk/index.a...

[Iregray]

Thanks to all who have replied I really appreciate your help and support as I just want to do the right thing. I have taken some advice from McMillian Employment Support who were very helpful today. Like some of you have posted and they feel in my situation it would be best for me to tick yes to the question Do I consider my myself as having a Disability under that question but as it’s a largely desk based role in the same building and environment that I currently work in and I don’t currently require any special aids to say no to the question which asks about if you were successful would you require any special provisions ie stair lift wheelchair access. So that’s what I will do then I will know I’ve done what I feel is right in declaring it. Whilst I know it shouldn’t make a difference to the employment process I know in real terms it may as they consider me to at risk off work. I lost my mum 5 weeks ago and I just feel lost, I had successfully applied for this position 10 years ago at 26 and for health reasons unrelated to ET was unable to take it as i was receiving treatment for my bladder. I don’t know how far I will get but I’m thinking of trying again and seeing how I go.

[Ebot in reply to Iregray]

Good luck with your application!

[tracey13]

It's an awful suituation. My husband never puts he has a disability down as he says he works full time never has time off work always works his 3 monthly appointment round his work. So in reality it doesn't effect his work at all.

Mind you he's a contract worker limited company so after he starts working he will tell the company he has a blood cancer but it's all managed so he may need a few hours off for his consultant appointment . His consultant has been doing telephone appointments which works really well .

We just keep getting his bloods done every three months.

I think a disability should be declared if you need special provisions within the work place .

Good luck with your application

Tracey