Have you ever questioned some of the questions on a job application? Concerns are being raised about how ethical or even legal some of them are.
"We're all nervous wondering what's going on," said Nancy, who doesn't want to use her last name, talking about December of 2014 when she and 274 fellow employees lost their jobs. The news shook her.
"Hurt. Scared,” said Nancy about how she felt.
Nancy had a previously scheduled doctor's appointment later that very day and to make matters worse Nancy's medical tests came back. “All of a sudden the radiologist came in and said, ‘Nancy, we see something.’"
It was breast cancer. Nancy has lost many family members to cancer including her husband. "It was scary because I'm going through this alone,” explained Nancy. “Even though I have my friends and family and the support, there's only so much they can do." She was brave, battling back to better health. Then she just wanted a job again, but more issues popped up.
As she was applying for jobs, she noticed she was being asked about her medical history. "Diabetes, seizures, multiple sclerosis, cancer,” said Nancy rattling off the various conditions she’s been asked about. At one point we even found this on a company's website: “...we are asking you to tell us if you have a disability or if you ever had a disability…" We checked with an employment expert who explained to me, even though the sites say the info “won't be used against you”, businesses should not ask you for past medical or disability issues in the application.
If you suspect wrongdoing, you can contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or an employment attorney.
Nancy hopes her info hasn't hurt her chances. "I want to go back to work and be self-sufficient again and not be, ‘Oh my God! I can't pay groceries this month."
