Job interview

[Rp321]

I have a job interview tomorrow 😀

For my current job I didn’t mention my raynauds and then got into trouble because I didn’t declare I had a disability - this is tricky because I don’t view raynauds as a disability (although I suppose it does fit the definition). I didn’t hide it I wrote On my occupational health form that I had raynauds and I was on iloprost infusions 5 days every 3-4 months so I thought that would be sufficient (I work for the nhs so I wrongly presumed they would know what that meant!). The first time I needed time off it was like a just told them the earth was flat! They said I should of declared my disability and the adjustments needed. I thought of adjustments as letting me wear gloves and keeping the heating on and I knew gloves would be out of the question so there’s nothing they could do to help.

Any way I have an interview tomorrow and I want to let them know so I’m not keeping it from them :

A) do you tell people at interview

B) what do you even say?

I will most certainly be playing it down I don’t want them to not want me because of my commitments attached to a drip.

[Vtoria]

Being truthful is always the best way to go. Let them know if you will have any limits you certainly don't want to be in a position that will flare you up and make you miserable

[LucyJean]

Hi there, absolutely tell them, and be very specific about what you need. The main issue for any employer is going to be needing time off sick, but one week in every four months is not likely to be a massive issue. You will need to make it clear that you have severe Raynaud's and what that means for a day to day work situation, such as needing to keep warm and protect your hands in certain contexts. I have no idea if Raynaud's does come under the label of disability in relation to the Equality Act 2010. Like every condition Raynaud's is on a spectrum. Lots of people have mild Raynaud's and it has no significant impact on them, but clearly if yours is severe and you need regular Iloprost to protect you from the complications of digital ulcers, then you are on the other end of the spectrum and should come under that guidance of the Act. You need to declare your condition and employers need to make 'reasonable adjustments'. To spell it out I would tell them dates of when you are booked in for treatment, in the way you would need to tell a future employer if you had a holiday booked that needed to be worked around.

As you say there is no need to make a bit deal out of it and risk putting people off, but you equally don't want to be in a similar position to your current situation. Just big up how wonderful you are in every other way and why they can't possibly manage without you!!

Good luck

Lucy xx

[sarahsch in reply to LucyJean]

Hi LucyJean,

You've had some great advice!

If you don't consider it a disability you could describe it as a long-term health condition that requires ongoing treatment.

I think as long as you're honest & tell them what that means in practice you should be fine. Employers don't like surprises.

Good luck

Sarah x

[celvo]

Hey!

I also have it quite severe and have found the best way to go is to describe it as a long term health condition (although occupational health have told me it counts as disability before!) and explain what support is required. It’s absolutely covered under the Equality Act 2010 and therefore they shouldn’t discriminate on that basis! Legally they can’t, but the fear is always going to be that realistically they do and dress it up as something else! Unfortunately there’s not too much that we can do besides being honest. To be honest unless asked specifically at interview I don’t mention it, as this is the sort of thing covered by occupational health and Human Resources specifically to ensure that that unconscious discrimination does not occur!! In my experience this has been something I specify during the application process and AGAIN following appointment when liaising with occupational health.

Good luck on your interview today, and I’m sorry that you spent the night before worrying yourself over something which is out of your control! Xx

[Rp321]

Thanks everyone - I actually didn’t mention it because it didn’t come up and I forgot too. I like the long term health condition aspect.

I used to work in a school and they were amazing about it ! Never grumbled about me taking time off and in the winter would offer me to not be on playground duty. One day I mentioned swimming was getting tricky And they swapped me to the hydro warm pool instead 😃

I also worked at a pre school and omg they were so unhelpful! I hadn’t been in because it was snowing and I was struggling so so bad. I called in and the manager said everyone else is In and someone else in the team has raynauds and she is in. I said I would go in but couldn’t go outside. Well all the kids were outside and they said I had to go out, I was dressed in full ski wear. The other member of staff with raynauds had a normal coat and what I deem to be summer gloves. When we came in I had tears in my eyes I hurt so bad, she had one mildly off colour finger. The next day I was admitted as an emergency for iloprost as my hands were in such a state. Lesson learnt not all raynauds is the same and I should of spoken up. It’s a learning curve and my biggest thing is that all my adaptations I do and my iloprost and all of that is just my completely normal life so I forget to mention it, I don’t realise or think about it. then when something is taken away or changed I realise how much I do subconsciously.

I didn’t get the job but at least I know it wasn’t because I had told them about my dodgy looking sickness record!