So, I was advised by multiple people that I had the right to refuse to answer the questions, and that my refusal could not be grounds for dismissal. I am however a realist, and starting out a new job by pointing out to your employer that a form they insist all employees complete is illegal would likely get me branded as a s**** disturber and pretty much guarnnatee that I wouldn't make it out of my probationary period. ok so maybe I'm cynical. but I got fired from my last job because the new managing director didn't like the fact that I worked flex time - they had to give me a good package but still.

So I decided to be honest. I listed all my meds. I checked off that I have a history of seizures, hospitalizations, been in car accidents, been treated for anxiety & depression, that I'm under a Dr's care currently and require accomodation.

The interview was interesting. I could tell from the nurses face that she was thinking "problem" but she handled the interview pretty well. She asked about my seizure history, which I do consider legitimate because if I had epilepsy that would be a real workplace issue. I told her that I had 2 seizures and both were caused by alcohol withdrawal. She asked me how long I'd been sober. I fudged there and said I'd completed rehab in summer 09. I didn't mention the relapses and figured it sounded better if I was sober for a year and a half rather than 6 months. She didn't ask about my hospitalizations (thank God). She asked about the anxiety and depression and if it was both or more one than the other. I said mine was purely depression. She asked how I was doing on my meds. I said I was completely in remission from depression (I am). She asked me if I was still attending any groups for addiction treatment. I told her I was in aftercare 1 morning a week at my hospital, and that I was active in AA. I told her that I had already negotiated taking Tues. mornings off as part of my offer, and that I hadn't specified what it was for, beyond that it was for ongoing medical treatment. She said that if I ever started getting pushback from my boss or the department about the flex time, to come to occupational health and they'd confirm that I needed flex time as a disability accomodation without revealing what it was for. So at this point I'm feeling pretty good about the whole thing.

Then things started to go downhill. She then produced a medical release form, for me to sign authorizing occupational health to tell my manager about any medical conditions that could affect my position. There was an option to refuse to sign the release - you had to give an explanation, but again I figured I'm not going to do anything to create waves. So now I just have to hope they keep my info confidential.

The part that really pisses me off is that the hospital is flat out lying to their employees. The nurse gave me a form to take home and read that outlined their policies around confidentiality. It also "explained" why the hospital was collecting the data. It said it was collecting the data in order to be compliant with workplace health and safety legislation. That's BS. I know this is BS as I was responsibile for workplace health and safety and all reporting at my last job. I also talked to a patient's right's advocate at my psych hospital who had run the form by her hospitals occupational health and safety department. According to her there was no way her hospital would dare collect the info my hospital is collecting due to privacy legislation and becuase there's no way it would get past the union. She also told me that the hospital I'm working for has all kinds of strange HR policies, because they're one of the few non-unionized hospitals in town. Their vacation policy is really screwy, and seriously messes with employees.

So for better or for worse, my MH and addictions history is out there.

--splitimage