Table of Contents
- 1 Should I mention my mental illness in an interview?
- 2 Can an employer ask about mental health in an interview?
- 3 Do you have to declare bipolar to employer?
- 4 Can you lose your job due to mental illness?
- 5 Can an employer ask if you have a mental illness?
- 6 How to talk about your mental health in a job interview?
Should I mention my mental illness in an interview?
Telling people you work with that you have a mental illness is a personal choice. You may already have discussed your illness with your employer at the job interview. You are only required to mention a mental illness if it could prevent you from safely and effectively completing the tasks required in your job.
Can an employer ask about mental health in an interview?
Under California law, mental disabilities include mental and psychological disorders or conditions, emotional illnesses, and intellectual learning disabilities. If you are showing signs of mental illness at work, your employer generally cannot ask you about it.
Do you have to disclose mental illness?
You have the right to disclose at any time during your employment. You also have the right not to disclose. The Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA)1 states that employers cannot ask questions that will likely reveal the existence of a disability before making a job offer.
Do you have to disclose mental health when applying for a job?
No, an employee or job candidate is not legally obliged to mention any medical condition, whether mental or not to an employer. Mental illness in particular is a very personal thing and it can be difficult to talk about even to your nearest and dearest, let alone an employer.
Do you have to declare bipolar to employer?
Telling your manager and work colleagues about your illness is a personal decision, but you have to ensure you remain within the law and your contract of employment. If, for example, your employer specifically asks about any illnesses then you should disclose if you have a diagnosis of bipolar.
Can you lose your job due to mental illness?
No. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against you simply because you have a mental health condition. This includes firing you, rejecting you for a job or promotion, or forcing you to take leave.
Are applicants legally obliged to disclose mental illness during an interview?
Are applicants legally obliged to disclose mental illness during an interview? No, a candidate does not have to mention any medical condition during a job interview. Even if asked, there is no obligation to answer the question. If not, are they legally obliged to then disclose it if they are offered the job?
Should I disclose my mental illness on my resume?
If mental illness has prevented you from working, there might be gaps on your resume that an employer will question. This could be a place where you’ll feel it a good idea to disclose any mental health issues.
Can an employer ask if you have a mental illness?
Be prepared though that an employer may ask about your ability to perform certain tasks that will touch on issues impacted by mental health, such as high pressure situations or conflict resolution. Another provision covered by the ADA is the right to job accommodations as long as they don’t cause “undue hardship” for an employer.
How to talk about your mental health in a job interview?
To do this, reach out to a support group or therapist to walk through broaching the subject of mental health with a job prospect so that you feel comfortable and can control the conversation, even in an interview setting.