Physical before a job offer? Really?

[mikester]

Really? I'm looking at another position but the company wants to a physical.

I'm not in great shape and done a bit of back sliding in the last few months but I just think the request itself is a little over the top.

Can they discriminate based on someone's overall health?

[TheMentat]

don't they pay for your healthcare down there?

[legion]

Are you doing something physical?

[mikester]

Desk Jockey. Occasional lifting.

[rick-l]

They are looking for a pre existing condition to jack your insurance rates,

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by mikester

Can they discriminate based on someone's overall health?

Of course they can. Few laws against it and very hard to prove in any case.

Welcome to capitalism at it's finest.

[LakeCleElum]

Probably varies by state. Where I'm from, it's proper to make a "Conditional job offer" an schedule a physical.....

[daepp]

We make every new ee get a physical to establish a baseline in the event of a future wc claim. Needless to say our exmod is very low!

[mikester]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Probably varies by state. Where I'm from, it's proper to make a "Conditional job offer" an schedule a physical.....

This is what they described to me.

What's the point?

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by mikester

Desk Jockey. Occasional lifting.

Railroad?

I took a physical when I took a job with Amtrak years ago. The union guys had to do it so the desk jockeys did too.

[mikester]

Nope.

[sammyg2]

Where I work a pre-employment physical is mandatory.

[vash]

i had to go through this. found out i am losing my hearing. well, it is weak.

i still got the gig. what do you have to lose? just do it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Railroad?

I took a physical when I took a job with Amtrak years ago. The union guys had to do it so the desk jockeys did too.

Same here. Our union plant guys have to, so us salary folks do too.

What's the big deal? I doubt they expect you to be in marathon shape.

[mikester]

I guess it isn't a big deal at all really - just caught me off guard.

[Noah930]

In general, I think the pre-employment physical is to protect the company from future workman's comp claims. Lets say you've got a small hernia, which may not even bother you right now. But after being hired, you lift a trashcan and claim you've now got groin pain and this hernia. So should that be covered under WC because you lifted the trashcan at work (in which case the company takes a hit, as they'll have premium raises down the road?) or under your own private health insurance (which is between you and your insurance company) because this was a pre-existing condition?

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by mikester

This is what they described to me.

What's the point?

Mike - The way I understand it is: If you took the physical before the job offer and didn't get the job, it opens the door to you making a "ADA" type of claim.

This way, you have the job unless it can be shown you have a physical condition that would prevent you from doing that job.

My background is in the public sector, was an administrator in city gov't B4 I retired. Now, I'm on the Civil Service Commission for my county and see the same type of issues come across my desk..........G'luck...

[rnln]

well, you wouldn't hire someone who can't hear well, or lost of reflexion do you? I assume just some normal tests unless they specified it.

[Zef]

Another reason to stay fit.

[s_morrison57]

I've heard of drug testing, and gone through that a couple of times but never a physical. When I started at the job I have now, 3.5 years ago the H Resources guy said that they do compulsary drug testing, I told him No Thanks, I've been testing drugs since I was 14 and I know the ones I like. He laughed big time and I still haven't taken that test. I'd pass it anyway as long as I could skip the THC part.