e-win
09 Jun 2006 19:58
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Should You Reveal that You are an Haemophiliac in Your 1st Job Interview
I have came across some Haemophilics who prefer not to inform their employer that they were an Haemophilic during the job interview. This is because, they were worried that they might be discriminated and will not be hired by the employer.
Therefore, out of curiosity, I would like to know other people`s opinion on this. Should You Reveal that You are an Haemophiliac in Your 1st Job Interview??
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cicero
10 Jun 2006 00:03
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This is an interesting subject and I am sure there are different opinions on this.
For my part, I actively use my voluntary work for the haemophilia society to promote myself on my resume (curriculum vitae). I find that it makes a good subject for discussion and helps show that I engage in activities outside school and the job. In Denmark employers are looking for so-called "whole" employees, i.e. employees who are able to balance their work with interests in their spare time and family.
At the first interview I normally do not mention having haemophilia unless it naturally comes up in the conversation. If it has not come up before, I will mention having haemophilia at the final interview. I think it is fair that the employer knows about my condition, and it might be important in case of an emergency. I have never had the feeling that I was rejected because of it.
In Denmark the law states that you must inform your employer of any medical condition if it causes more than about 20 days of absense per year. However, the law also protects you against discrimination. Anyway, most Danish haemophilia patients are so well treated that they are highly unlikely to pass the 20 day limit.
I wonder whether there are any laws in other countries that force you to tell about your condition?
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macca
20 Jun 2006 14:08
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I think this issue is very important, and one that I have recently been advocating to be re-addressed in Australia.
I am currently studying law and I am not aware of any law in Australia that requires disclosure(to be researched!). However I am aware that you cannot sack or refuse to hire on the basis of disability, unless it prevents them from fulfilling the requirements of the job.
I don`t think that it is necessary to disclose straight away (if at all), however it may be advantageous to tell the employer at some stage to explain absences from work.
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wayne
20 Jun 2006 23:11
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I can understand why haemophiliacs would not want to mention it in an interview. Recently went to an interview last month and never mentioned it, mainly because I simply forgot to. It might sound daft but it did not cross my mind at all.
I do feel that the employer has the right to know about it, and during the interview you need to set the employers mind at ease. After all when you mention that you bleed internally, I am sure there are visions of the person bleeding all over the show, what happens if they cut them self. We all know that this is no where near the case and they need to be educated about it. After all the more people that are educated about haemophilia the better??? But yes the employer has the right to know, and you should be free with haemophilia to talk openly about it and not fear it.
In South Africa it plays in our favor, which it is classed as a disability and part of the affirmative action a certain percentage of your staff must be disabled. So it does play in our favor and I do have it on my CV.
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cicero
22 Jun 2006 22:48
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I find it interesting that South Africa has a law that dictates affirmative action, where haemophilia is included. Any other countries have that?
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