Appropriate answers to the gap in work history if you were on disability?

[st789]

If you continue to work while on dialysis, that is wonderful.  But what about those not feeling well enough to work and now feeling better to work.

Any opinions on this?





EDITED: Moved to proper section - Sluff/ Admin

[tweetykiss]

If you continue to work while on dialysis, that is wonderful.  But what about those not feeling well enough to work and now feeling better to work.

Any opinions on this?

EDITED: Moved to proper section - Sluff/ Admin

You know if there is one thing I hate and that is an employer's height to nosiness.....I have never been on disability but there were some gaps on my resume since I had bartended and waitressed and I didn't want to put those down and I wanted to tell the interviewers to shut the eff up but I didn't......when a couple of them asked me, what did you do before this year, I simply said I was a housewife which is nothing to be ashamed of.......then how do you like this when they say can you provide us with personal references who are not your relatives nor employers so that we can do a character reference.....now then I know I don't want to work there since I know they want to know who we slept with the night before and how we had sex that night......I once told this agency who had that nerve; I am in school ( I was since I thought I would go into CPA) and work and married, so when is there time for a social life?  He shut the eff up but he didn't help me which is fine since I did get a job on my own thank you......

[Chicken Little]

Honesty is the best policy.  No oversharing though.  Just say, "I was on disability, but I'm feeling much better and I'm ready to work, thanks."   Being evasive isn't going to impress them and making something up is grounds for termination, if you get the job.   

I've had to pass on many great candidates because they weren't honest on their application, and most of the time what they lied about wasn't important in my determination.   

Discrimination for disabilities isn't legal, but it happens.  My take on it is if someone doesn't hire you because you've been on disability or have an illness, it's probably not the kind of place you want to work  anyway.

[st789]

Thanks!

[okarol]

Tell them you were volunteering at the dialysis clinic.

Naww probably best to be truthful.

[larry781]

If you are presently on disability, you may want to re-consider returning to work. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING black spots a career like a chronic illness, and no chronic illness is harder to hide than ESRD. I returned to work exactly two weeks after getting out of the hospital, and my career took a giant squat about 5 minutes after that. People look at me like I'm about to kick off at any moment (if one more person asks me how I'm feeling, I'm going to scream). They seem to ignore the notion that I do 3 times the work of anyone else, or that I take a break everyday to curl the 40 pound dumbbell I keep under my desk, they just see the fistula and hold on to their BS antiquated ideas. Take heed.

Larry, Long Island

[livecam]

Larry has the right idea.  If you have to tell them about gaps then you should probably be truthful but there is no need to bring up the topic of ESRD yourself.  Being truthful could also mean saying that you decided to take a break, travel, or if you can prove it go back to school  Just FYI, after going to work I would keep the fistula hidden to prevent questions about it and having to answer. 

Many companies have a probationary period for new hires.  You want to get through that before they know anything about ESRD.  They could do something to you if they knew but use something else as their excuse for not keeping you. 

I remember the case of a fellow patient I knew on dialysis.  He had just been offered a job as a furniture salesman for a large national chain. ("You'll Love it at Levitz.")  Somehow, the new employer found out that he was on dialysis before he actually started.  They got rid of him instantly.

Let them hire you based on your abilities.  Then, either don't let them know or let them find out in the distant future after you have proved and established yourself in their company.

[skyedogrocks]

It is against the law for an employer to ask about your personal life.  You can say you were on disability, but a company cannot ask you what you were on disability for.  If they do and you tell them, it creates a legal risk for that company and you can sue on discrimination.

[okarol]

This is from: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Job Applicants -- http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/employmentlaw/a/ada.htmWhat the Employer Can't Ask

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from asking questions that are likely to reveal the existence of a disability before making a job offer (i.e., the pre-offer period). This prohibition covers written questionnaires and inquiries made during interviews, as well as medical examinations. However, such questions and medical examinations are permitted after extending a job offer but before the individual begins work (i.e., the post-offer period).Examples of prohibited questions during the pre-offer period include:

    * Do you have a heart condition? Do you have asthma or any other difficulties breathing?
    * Do you have a disability which would interfere with your ability to perform the job?
    * How many days were you sick last year?
    * Have you ever filed for workers' compensation? Have you ever been injured on the job?
    * Have you ever been treated for mental health problems?
    * What prescription drugs are you currently taking?

Job Qualifications

An employer does not have to hire you if you are unable to perform all of the essential functions of the job, even with reasonable accommodation. However, an employer cannot reject you only because the disability prevents you from performing minor duties that are not essential to the job.

More info at: http://jobsearch.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=jobsearch&cdn=careers&tm=80&f=10&su=p554.2.150.ip_p560.3.150.ip_p664.2.420.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.eeoc.gov/facts/jobapplicant.html

[tweetykiss]

It is against the law for an employer to ask about your personal life.  You can say you were on disability, but a company cannot ask you what you were on disability for.  If they do and you tell them, it creates a legal risk for that company and you can sue on discrimination.

That is just my point...they have NO right to ask anything personal during the interview or after they hire you.......they cannot even ask you what you did on your vacation when you come back from a paid vacation.......one good thing about interviewing for state and city jobs is that they follow those laws since they are all too familiar with what is legal and not legal......when I was in the private sector, I felt very violated from personal questions from bosses and even co-workers.......no one at work has a right to ask anything personal....now I will admit I didn't mind it (although there are people who would be offended) that when I taught, the assistant principal once asked me if I was pregnant (I am a little big there since I am a little overweight) but I know it was not because she was concerned she would have to hire a fill-in but only to share a job if there was a baby in there so I just told her nicely "sorry no baby there".....she has no kids herself.....I never let that question bother me even when children in my class asked me since I have been hearing that question for years so I just say no baby there......

[st789]

Yeah, employers are very alert of the gap in the work history, especially in the private sector.  My brother worked for a Corporation and tell me about how some upper mgm. request him to can those employees with high medical bills or on expensive prescriptions.


"You with Love it at Levitz"  Not.....

[tweetykiss]

Yeah, employers are very alert of the gap in the work history, especially in the private sector.  My brother worked for a Corporation and tell me about how some upper mgm. request him to can those employees with high medical bills or on expensive prescriptions.


"You with Love it at Levitz"  Not.....

Bunch of nut cases to me so I say let's lock em up in the sanitarium and throw away the key......

*this is a vent post*

[Roxy]

I have a question that goes along with this thread....I am hopefully going back to work at the beginning of September and "technically" I am still employed with my old job even though I am on disability leave. Does this count as a gap in work history since I have been on disability leave or since I am considered to be an employee would it be safe to say that I have been at that current job until now? I am curious because I am considering whether I want to stay with them or go somewhere else.

[Chicken Little]

I have a question that goes along with this thread....I am hopefully going back to work at the beginning of September and "technically" I am still employed with my old job even though I am on disability leave. Does this count as a gap in work history since I have been on disability leave or since I am considered to be an employee would it be safe to say that I have been at that current job until now? I am curious because I am considering whether I want to stay with them or go somewhere else.

If you don't return to the job, your termination date will back date to the last day you worked.  So yes, you'll have a gap.   If you return to the old job though and work until you find something else, it won't show up as a gap.   

[Roxy]

Thanks Chicken Little, that info helps a lot!

[keefer51]

I have such a big gap around 3 years i usually tell the truth. When i first started dialysis i was offered a job while i was sitting and getting hooked up. When he found out i was on dialysis he said he didn't have a problem with it, however he said he didn't want  to pick me up with his insurance. He said his medical insurance is like 20,000$. If he would hire me it would go up 10,000$. So he hired someone else. I had the same problem before when they would find out i had a kidney transplant. I was told i would always have the problem.

[Roxy]

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. That's why I want it to look like I do not have a gap. I think it helps to work for larger companies though too. It's usually the smaller ones that are more concerned with their medical insurance going up a lot.

[Sara]

If you don't return to the job, your termination date will back date to the last day you worked.  So yes, you'll have a gap.   If you return to the old job though and work until you find something else, it won't show up as a gap.   

THANK YOU!  That's good to know. 

[Sluff]

If you don't return to the job, your termination date will back date to the last day you worked.  So yes, you'll have a gap.   If you return to the old job though and work until you find something else, it won't show up as a gap.   

Great advice, it is so simple yet easy to not think of. Thanks CL

[Chicken Little]

If you don't return to the job, your termination date will back date to the last day you worked.  So yes, you'll have a gap.   If you return to the old job though and work until you find something else, it won't show up as a gap.   

Great advice, it is so simple yet easy to not think of. Thanks CL

Just be careful on your dates.  Many employers have a policy to automatically terminate employment if you are out longer than 6 months.  Often they will hire you back when you become able to work, but if you get terminated under these circumstances you'll have to reveal the termination and rehire dates.

[Sara]

CL, is that actually legal?  I didn't think they could fire you when you were out on disability.

[Chicken Little]

CL, is that actually legal?  I didn't think they could fire you when you were out on disability.

Yes, it's completely legal.  For those that qualify, FMLA offers some protection during the first months.  Even in California though, where employee protection laws are the strictest in the US, there are still ways to terminate someone on disability.  Every job I've ever had has had a firm policy to terminate disabled employees on the 6 month date.

[Ang]

tell  them  the  truth,and  that  your  wiling  to  gain  futher  education,to  get  up  to  speed  with  the  world

[ktpuppers]

I agree with those who say honesty is best.  However, I took it one step farther in my interview.  When I was asked if there was anything I would like to add.  I did.  I told the interview panel that I was on dialysis and that I tried to miss as little work as possible.  My feeling was that it might give me an edge over the other candidates.  This is because many employers are "Equal Opportunity Employers."  If you are able to present yourself as confident and your "disability" is not fully evident during the interview, they can then hire a "disabled" person for the EOE.  In discussing interviews with my supervisor, she said that that was one of my selling points that I was honest and put it out there that I was on dialysis (I did the same thing on my first date with a cute girl--worked that time too, she married me).  By letting her know, she was able to ask my references about it.  They were able to verify that I was on dialysis and that I would be an excellent employee for her.

I have seen that many employers try to hire the best person for the job, regardless of physical abilities.  If you are the best candidate, they will call your references and past employers.  If there are gaps in the resume that you would like to explain, as previous people stated, you were ill and are now able to concentrate your efforts on baing a positive asset for the employer. 

Hope this helps.