Pre-employment physicals

wholenewworld · May 2014

I've been requested to have a pre-employment physical done by my new workplace. I've never had one of these before, and although I've heard of places that do it, it rubs me the wrong way. What is the purpose, and how do they use that information about you? Thanks!

Sharon&Paul · May 2014

I have always had one. I work in medicine. The physical is very basic - history, BP, heart, lung exam, ppd.

cedenton · May 2014

I work for a transportation company. Many people work physical jobs out in the field. Everyone, whether they work in the field or not is required to take a pre-employment physical consisting of eye exam, drug test (both pee and hair), and other regular physical components. I have bad vision in one eye and failed their eye test which required me to get a note from my eye doctor saying I could perform my job functions. Anything I wrote on the forms I had to fill out had to be documented and I had to get a doctor to say they wouldn't affect my job function. For example, I wrote that I'd seen a doctor/PT for knee and calf pain and that I'd had back surgery 15 years before. All of that required a doctor's release. This is mostly so they can compare any claim you were to ever make against the information you provided. I don't have a field job, but have a had occasion to be out in the field and could have been prone to an accident/injury.

wholenewworld · May 2014

Thanks for your responses! I talked to the occ health scheduler and she said it is mostly for immunization verification (hospital work).

It's hard for me to say exactly why it rubs me the wrong way. I guess I just feel like personal health information is very private and that people shouldn't have access to it if they don't need it for something. I take my responsibility to protect health information very seriously as a health care professional, so maybe that helps explain why I'm weary of dishing mine out to anyone who asks.

Edit: typo

shannm · May 2014

I didn't need a physical but I did have a drug test.

After I was hired, I was encouraged to get blood work and measurements done. They claim it was all confidential and promoting good health. We were rewarded for doing it monetarily.

I can understand your apprehension but needing immunization records makes sense considering it is a hospital.

wholenewworld · May 2014

shannm said:

I didn't need a physical but I did have a drug test. After I was hired, I was encouraged to get blood work and measurements done. They claim it was all confidential and promoting good health. We were rewarded for doing it monetarily. I can understand your apprehension but needing immunization records makes sense considering it is a hospital.

Totally agree. I have no qualms about that, and am glad that they take verification of immunization seriously. They just told me that it was going to be an hour and a half long appt, which is longer than any physical that I've ever been to, so I was curious as to what they all needed to know and why!

Also agree with K3am, just can't figure out how to double quote. If they are looking for something that directly influences your ability to do the job, sure, but my medical history that doesn't affect my ability to work isn't their business, IMO.

Myaflowers · May 2014

theresat858 said:
Why does it rub you the wrong way that your workplace wants to ensure your health? I'm confused by that.

I can understand having to do a drug screen or give proof of immunization since I work in a doctor's office. I could understand having to pass a vision test if I were going to be a pilot or provide proof that I don't have any physical problems that would prevent me from manual labor if that were a requirement of my job. I don't think it's any business of my employer if I have medical conditions or problems that don't impact my ability to do my job. It would rub me the wrong way, too.

Mustardseed2007 · May 2014

It wouldn't be legal for them to do a pre offer health screen. After they extend you an offer it is legal if done in a Non discriminatory way but many employers won't do them bc having the info opens them up to ADA claims or hipaa violations.so if they are doing it they likely feel like they can demonstrate that it's necessary to have the info for your job.

Employee healthcare fairs that are put on by an employers insurance company are done to generally promote good health in hopes that it will help all employees be generally healthy and therefore result in lower premiums, but the employer is not putting those on themselves and will not have access to individualized results...it sounded to me that one of the subsequent poster's employers might have been doing that.

ETA: Edited 1st sentence for accuracy.

Mrs_Lady · May 2014

I work in HR at a hospital and TJC and as well as regulatory agencies require this for all workers and contractors

Your health file stuff is kept separate from your employment file.

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