Does a person with a disability have to undergo a pre-employment medical exam?

An employer should always arrange for a successful candidate to be medically examined before offering them a job, irrespective of whether they have a disability or not. The company should provide the doctor with a full and detailed job description before examining the candidate. Job descriptions should include all the relevant requirements for doing the job, including the most basic elements such as lifting, bending, driving and travel. If the doctor finds that the candidate cannot do the entire job because of a disability, the doctor should be asked to give an opinion as to whether any special treatment or facilities (special induction, lighting, seating or gloves, for example) might be available to enable the candidate to meet all of the requirements. The employer should also seek the assistance of other professionals as appropriate, ie occupational therapists.

Wednesday, 2 July 2008