Hey everyone, I wondered if anyone could give me some advice on what to tell a potential new employer about my RA or whether I should mention it at all??
Im not very happy in my current job and have been looking for a new one. Im at a second interview stage for an amazing job but I am so anxious and worried about whether I can cope with the job (as it will be more hard work and involves more travelling but more money) Should tell them about my condition? Do I suffer in silence? I have a mortgage to pay so is changing jobs too risky? What if I get put on biologicals? Will i then need some time off do I need to tell them??
I have no idea what to do..I am 30 years old, single and have a mortgage to pay on my own. Since being diagnosed with RA i have been so anxious and making such a big change in my life scares me as I dont know how im going to feel one day to the next. If they do decide to give me the job do I just lay all my cards on the table?
If anyone has any help or advice for me that would be amazing. Thank you so much for your support xx
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Harvey0279
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If you don't tell them and it later comes out because it is affecting your ability to do your work, then you haven't exactly made them willing to help!
On the other hand, I can understand that you feel that it might stop them giving you the job.
I, personally, would find a way of mentioning the RD while pointing out how little (hopefully this is the case?) impact it has on your work history and ability.
Don't cross the other bridges until you come to them. You may be perfectly well controlled on the medication that you are taking currently. Many people are and need no more time off work than anyone else.
There is useful information for employers on the NRAS site, worth reading before you take a decision to change jobs.
This was meant for Harvey0279......I clicked on thev the wrong reply!
I agree with old timer....but use the words rheumatoid arthritis,not disease......as we all know, most people regard RA is just a few aches and pains whereas bringing in the word 'disease' may well flag up more questions than you really want to answer at this point.
Regarding Biologics, it will obviously depend on which one you take . I'm on RTX & it only entails 6 days every 6 months - on three of the days it's only for a blood test, then a consult to make sure you are OK to have the infusions on 2 days 2 weeks apart.I'm a lot older than you & I drive myself to & from on infusion days & apart from feeling a bit tired the day after I'm fine & could work if I needed to
The 2010 Equality Act helps protect job applicants against discrimination, by disallowing questions about a candidate's health or sickness record before offering a job ( with a couple of exceptions). And if they ask about health, and you tell them and are then turned down for the job you may have grounds for unlawful discrimination...
So I would wait until you are offered the job, and then explain in a positive way so saying that has not been an issue in current job (if it hasn't been - you mustn't lie) but you want them to know in case you do have a flare and need some short term reasonable adjustments.
I agree with Helixhelix, if you are offered the job inform them then so that you can be offered any reasonable adjustments if and when you need them. The only time you need to inform an employer at selection stage is if it would affect your ability to do the job. Good luck xx
Agree with the previous two comments, wait until they make an offer and then tell them. They can’t, as mentioned, discriminate so if they were to withdraw the offer at that point you would have very good grounds for a case - and you have also told them before you start so both bases covered.
Was in a bit of a rush earlier, but also you have other concerns other than ‘just’ disclosure of health situation.
Changing jobs is always stressful, starting a new job is always a risk. However if your current job is making you unhappy then, in my opinion, it’s worth doing something about. Being trapped in a job that you don’t like is one of those things that slowly gets you. There’s never a good time when you have a condition like RA, but if you are relatively well controlled at the moment then now is as good a time as any.
Taking risks is how we gain things that we might not otherwise gain. Without taking that risk you will never know if it would have been the right thing to do, and that is worse than not taking the risk and finding out afterwards that your current trajectory is not sustainable. Doing any job is tough with RA, doing one you don’t like is far, far worse. And eventually something has to give.
At least in your current situation you are in control of the change, and it might be that you end up with fantastic employers that are totally understanding plus a job you love, and that in itself can give you the extra encouragement that you may need at times, to carry on getting up in the morning and going to work. I know from personal experience that just pushing on and trying to do a job you hate doesn’t end well.
Of course there are no guarantees, but at the end of the day you can make that decision when, and if, you are offered the job.
As for time off for treatment, none of us have a crystal ball. I’m on Humira and I can do that at home in 30 seconds and have no morning after symptoms at all, so biologics per se won’t be an issue. If you do need time off for hospital appointments etc, any good employer will respect that and at absolute worst allow you time off without pay. They aren’t legally obliged to give you time off, and might say that you need to take holiday or make the hours up sometime, but a good employer should be understanding and flexible with their staff. People are people not robots, and as such need some degree of flexibility whatever their circumstances. A good employer recognises this and will be prepared to be flexible.
And also it might never happen. Don’t turn down a potentially (positively) life-changing opportunity for what ifs and maybes.
Easy to say from here, I know. But if it was me...
Thankyou so much I really think i need this change to help me mentally. Fingers crossed some good luck finally comes my way (although RA will not let me cross my fingers ha!) xx
It’s easy to say from here, I know, but nothing ventured nothing gained!
Then again it’s your mortgage, your happiness and your life so only you can decide if it’s a risk you are happy to take. I know for me the stress of being (or at least feeling) trapped in a job I hated really wasn’t good for me mentally or physically and in the end I couldn’t carry on. If it had been a job I loved and I had the right support from my employer, who knows?
I hope it works out for you, whatever you decide to do.
I would say, if you will regret not going for it, go for it. You are young and others have given you great advice. Life is an adventure and where at all possible dont let RD steel that from you. I would say go girl and embrace the future. Good luck
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