Job Knowlage Question

No:

http://www.lawcrossing.com/article/2839/Should-I-Disclose...#

I believe your employer does not have the right to know your medical issues unless they impact your ability to perform your duties. Could be an EO thing.

Nope, they have not right unless you cannot do your job. If there are issues that would cause you to maybe take a longer lunch, you can tell your boss that you need to take extra time for appt but you are not required to fill them in on details.

This is not as simple question as you think and it depends on your job. Everyone is right, if it is not effecting your job but it is your doctor that must decide, not you, whether it will effect your job.

As someone who dabbles in HR nothing is more stressful than when and employee collapses and you find out later that they knew it could happen but they didn't think it would effect their work so they came in.

So, hypothetically, talk to your doctor.

Only if you end up needing special accomodation, need to take a medical leave, claim a disability, or claim your illness is job related. In those cases yes. They will most likely ask for a physician statement or be entitled to obtain your records.

Please tell someone (a boss, a coworker that is trusted, HR)...I sat next to a woman a few years ago and she collapsed and seized as I was trying to keep her from hitting her head. She threw her headset at me as she was falling to catch my attention...I caught her just before her head hit the desk.

I and the others around me had NO IDEA she was diabetic. Neither did our supervisor. It is absolutely scary! yes it's the patients right to not explain but there are people in the office, company that care. Had I known it was a possibility...I would not have done anything different other than FREAK OUT...I may have been more calm.

Once I realized the situation I started barking orders the other employees, call 911, get "Supervisor"...most of them just stood around staring.

I agree with Jo...talk with the doctor.

SOMEONE should know IF it's a condition requiring a response from others if "something" (hypothetically) happens while you're at work. (I'm thinking heart defib/diabetes/epilepsy) etc. but it is entirely up to you to disclose. Not like an excuse for poor performance ("feeling ugh"--which is probably not your intention). If it's a matter of your personal safety, it would behoove you to alert someone.

In the vast majority of cases, no. None of the employer's business. But there ARE cases where it's helpful to know.

For instance, right now I work with someone who has chemical sensitivities. We've made reasonable accommodations for her, in terms of the products used to clean the office.

If I had a coworker who was, say, diabetic, I'd like to know so I could order nonsugary refreshments for meetings -- things like that.

And if you need to take a few days off for medical treatments, it's probably best to tell your boss why and (if you wish) to respectfully request confidentiality.

But in most cases, unless you need some kind of modification, you're under no obligation to disclose.

Most employers would prefer not to, unless your illness specifically affects your ability to perform your role.

Nope - if it it doesn't affect your job performance and you are not contagious then it is nobody's business but your own.

If it's not affecting your job, then no, they don't have a 'right' to know.

I believe it is on a need to know basis. If it does not effect your job/performance than keep it to yourself. Once it begins to interfere than it is time to get FMLA paperwork in your employee file to CYA.

No. That's what the HIPPA regulations are all about. Even if it effects your job you don't have to inform your employer. If you have a diagnosed disability and want to have consideration for that then you can choose to tell them and go through the process of proving your need. But if you don't want them to know you can choose to change jobs or to find other work.

No, you do not have to tell your employer. You should tell your supervisor if you will need to take time off to deal with a medical situation. Otherwise, it's really none of their business.

I deal with several things in my job that handles medical information. I sometimes send people to our occupational health clinic to be evaluated for a particular job. I don't want to know anything but if they are fit to do the job or not. I cannot legally retain anything except a "fit-to-work" letter. It is bad business practice to have all of an employee's medical information. If the employee needs to be let go later, there should be nothing that even gives the perception that the termination is due to a medical condition, which is illegal.

If the employer does not have that medical knowledge, there can be no basis for the employee to claim medical discrimination.

As long as it doesn't affect your ability to do your job or your ability to be at work every day, then it is none of his/her business. Medical issues are covered under privacy laws. You don't HAVE to disclose them to anyone.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)....
Your health information is private. You only need to inform them if it will require you to take off time from work or may cause harm to co-workers. If it's effecting your job performance, you may want to let them know so that they will understand why you're not performing up to your usual standards.

If it doesn't affect you or your coworkers or the job you do, then its up to you if you tell someone.

Good luck to you and yours.