Thoughts about the "do you or have you been diagnosed with a disability" question?

26 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 16,2024 at 11:07PM UTC

   I'd lean towards saying no; keep personal as much as possible

2. AnonymousApril 17,2024 at 12:43AM UTC

   Companies don’t like to hire outwardly disabled people!
   It’s messed up but it’s a cold hard fact of the American job system. Either lie or put no or I don’t wish to answer because it’s NONE of their damn business! If employers only knew the hellhole my life has been, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get hired anywhere for years. I have depression, C-PTSD from childhood abuse, ADHD, I’m high masking Autistic and I have a physical autoimmune disease that’s genetic in nature! So that alone would make me a very risky candidate for any job. However, I look and act like everyone else so none is the wiser for it and can’t condemn me because of the bad hand life has dealt me. I’m grateful to not show any disability because I’m already working poor and lower earning.

3. AnonymousApril 17,2024 at 2:07AM UTC

   I also have a serious problem with depression and ADHD. Many years ago I had to take a lengthy leave of absence from a job. I never disclose either of these issues when asked if I have a disability. I feel that since both of my conditions are under control, it isn't anything I want to be judged with.

4. Eileen MApril 18,2024 at 9:40AM UTC

   I don't want to answer is great alternative to saying no on the job application.

   Having worked in HR for almost 20-years, I can honestly tell you I've never looked at the response to these questions, however, would ask if the person is able to do the functions of the role during the recruitment. Or better asked, is there anything preventing you from being able to perform the duties of the position. Hiring Managers I've worked with have never had access or seen this question/responses.

   I would encourage, if hired, to fill out the new hire forms with honesty when re-asked. That data goes no where, but is reported at a high level to better serve people programs. Disability is one of the few protected classes that we all can age into, bringing awareness that there are disability needs throughout the organization can signal to the organization that more needs to be done to support and aid talent.

   At the end of the day, trust yourself in how to answer. Do what makes you feel comfortable.

5. AnonymousApril 20,2024 at 12:38AM UTC

   I was covered by the ADA the day it passed and started every school year filing my ADA paperwork. It's not really just something we "age into."

   I do answer "don't wish to answer" for all the survey questions.

6. AnonymousApril 18,2024 at 12:24PM UTC

   Honestly I've heard of people noticing they don't get selected when selecting yes to that question. I would say don't do it. None of their business. Say you don't have a disability.

7. AnonymousApril 18,2024 at 12:27PM UTC

   I’d never answer yes to that question. Say what they will, it’s used to weed people out from hiring.

8. GirlBossanova934974April 18,2024 at 12:44PM UTC

   I would simply answer "I don't wish to answer" and add that to all the other intrusive and invasion of privacy questions that some employers love to ask these days. My response? NONE of your damn business! Keep your eyes and ears out of my personal life.

9. Sue Gordon- retired Career CoachApril 18,2024 at 1:11PM UTC

   This sounds illegal. They cannot ask for a diagnosis and listing depression indicates they are.

   All an employer needs to know is if you require reasonable accommodation with regard to disability. Diagnosis need not be disclosed.

10. Darina Randi Woods SegatoreApril 18,2024 at 1:39PM UTC

    Ditto, ditto, ditto. And as a disabled individual working in a field that seeks to support the disabled, I am disappointed at the lack of support for employees who seek out what the ADA allows- in other words, the means by which they can do their jobs with well-founded assistance. Mention the phrase “reasonable accommodation” to some organizations & suddenly…it’s a ghost town. And these are some of the largest organizations with cleverly written mission statements. Alas, often it doesn’t apply to you.

    I have always been prepared with examples of the reasonable accommodation(s) I ve successfully utilized in the past. But, as my grandfather used to say, the cobbler’s children are seldom shod.

11. AnonymousApril 18,2024 at 1:53PM UTC

    This isn't necessarily illegal, depending on how and where it's being asked. Assuming this is the standard place in an application, it doesn't ask for a specific diagnosis, but depression is on the list of possible disabilities, along with a number of others. I've never seen on an application where you have to specifically identify your disability, it's always a yes/no/prefer not to answer drop down.

12. asmith13April 18,2024 at 10:14PM UTC

    I was about to say the same thing. I have never seen anything worded like this---it was all about if you needed an accommodation. Very odd.

13. AnonymousApril 18,2024 at 1:34PM UTC

    Interesting question ... I've wondered the same.

14. AnonymousApril 18,2024 at 2:54PM UTC

    I've suffered from clinical depression and anxiety, but I've never had to take leave or let it impact my job performance. I got appropriate medication and therapy. I still can go through periods of both, but I'm medication free and have good coping skills now. So, I answer no to that question. What happened in your last job happened in your last job. Answer no.

15. AnonymousApril 18,2024 at 4:30PM UTC

    I would recommend responding with " I don't want to answer" if and when the timing is right and you are working there, you can broach the subject should you need FMLA or other time off. You might need a doctors note but would anyhow for FMLA.

16. Krystin MorganApril 18,2024 at 5:05PM UTC

    I know it seems concerning, but the truth is that no individual at the company actually has access to your answers here. The data is tracked in aggregate so the company can see (and report to the government, if required) how they're trending in terms of diversity, whether by race or gender or disability status.

    There's no harm in saying "I choose not to answer," though, nor is there harm in answering with a yes or a no. It isn't tied to your application in a meaningful way (in other words, there's probably some way it's maybe tied way back in the back end of a database but I'm not techy enough to know).

17. Lorraine HerreraApril 19,2024 at 12:35PM UTC

    I shouldn’t affect you, but realistically, sometimes it does. You are not obligated to disclose a disability or if you need accommodations until the moment you have an offer. That is if you need accommodations, if you think you can work without them, you can reserve that information for yourself. That being said, I assume this is one of those statistics questions in the application, if I’m correct, that is usually used when companies have federal contract because the federal agencies require contractors to be diversity affirming and certain percent of the employees has to be disabled, veterans, natives or another protected class. If this is an interview question, then is illegal, just look at the context of when and how is asked.

18. Joycelyn M. SiameApril 19,2024 at 1:37PM UTC

    I am always frank and honest with my mental health diagnosis, because it's my truth. Luckily for me, it has not affected my ability to find work, nor has it been held against me at any place of employment I have worked. It all depends on your level of comfort I suppose. Good luck <3

19. AnonymousApril 19,2024 at 8:52PM UTC

    I am an HR Professional who suffers from anxiety and depression- while it rarely affects my job I select yes my reasoning is twofold:

    1. Some employers are required to show they hire people with a disability (only hr sees this for data purposes)
    2. It is the beginning of documenting that I do have something that can limit my major life functions at times. In case I should need it in the future
20. AnonymousApril 21,2024 at 12:26PM UTC

    I can relate to your hesitation. I had the same question on my job application, and I was hesitant to answer yes or no. Mainly because it’s my first professional job since graduating from college in December, but I thought if that person were to search my name in Google or something, there would be two or three articles talking about how I succeeded in school with a disability. I decided to say yes because of that. I was offered accommodations, but I have yet to get them because I don’t know what accommodations I am eligible for. I could use some.

    Im also a huge advocate for people with disabilities, and I believe that the number of people who have mental health issues or some type of disability is growing and it just needs to become a “normalized” thing of society. The more awareness spread, the more people see that people in our unique situation can be just as successful as the rest of us..

21. M CDApril 21,2024 at 1:15PM UTC

    Recruiters cannot and should not see your response on that form.
    The form you're referring to is the Form CC-305, and it's required to be presented as part of the job application if the employer is a federal contractor, meaning they do business with the government. Depression and lots of other disabilities are listed there, if that's what you meant when you said depression is listed? Bc otherwise, as the others have mentioned, they shouldn't be asking you to disclose a disability, like from a drop down? That would be completely illegal.

    So if you're referring to the Form CC-305, recruiters can't see your answers to that. Employers are required to collect the information and report it in aggregate to the government to comply with certain government reporting requirements and obligations to hire individuals with disabilities. It's completely voluntary if you want to disclose you have a disability or not, or if you say choose not to answer. It's collected at the job application stage but the recruiters can't see your answers.

    If you end up getting hired, only a select few people will have access to that data. And again, it's only used to complete the required govt reporting. Suppose you needed an accommodation later on. I find it highly unlikely that they're going to care what you put on your application or that they would even try to tie it back to what you selected on your application when you were hired. I do this for a living and I can tell you right now, we're certainly not researching the applications of every person who asks for an accommodation to see what they put on their application.

    That's the other thing with disabilities and accommodations. Disabilities can change at any time, so from the accommodation perspective, who cares what they put on their application. Someone could select "no" on their application, but now 6 months later they need an accommodation bc something has changed with their health. Or, just bc someone selects yes I have a disability on their application doesn't mean they're going to need an accommodation, etc.

    Anyway, answer the question how you feel comfortable. If the recruiters ask you ANY kind of question related to your health or a disability, those questions are illegal and you don't have to answer them. Good luck!

22. AnonymousApril 21,2024 at 3:58PM UTC

    It negatively impacted mine. Also spread within the community and these people are not well rounded so you can imagine how much defaming of my character occurred. I was harassed excessively at work and scrutinized for it.

23. AnonymousApril 22,2024 at 8:17PM UTC

    The same thing happened to me. I was told that I was "fragile." That is not a word that has ever described me, even on my darkest of days. I will never tell anyone about it again. You are judged.

24. AnonymousApril 24,2024 at 2:48AM UTC

    Heard the same thing too or people think I’m dumb because I don’t always look “chipper” if you will. I not even these days disclose it to a medical doctor unless you trusted them. The best bet is a church support group or a regular support group or a trusted and well rounded therapist who understands. I’m sorry that happened to you. People are sick.

25. AnonymousApril 24,2024 at 9:30PM UTC

    I recently switched primary care doctors to one who actually cares and listens. My old one always told me everything was in my head, because he knew I suffered from depression. This included my high cholesterol, which kept rising. My father had 6 serious heart attacks and bypass surgery and died of a stroke. My mother died of a heart attack. I had to beg this man and his nasty nurse to order my cholesterol tests each time and he refused to give me a prescription for a statin! Whenever I went into his office, no matter what my issue was, he said it was all in my head. I finally had enough and found a new doctor. He's great, as is everyone in the practice! They are kind and I never feel rushed. It is a positive experience!

26. AnonymousApril 22,2024 at 4:00AM UTC

    I'm an epileptic. I always answer truthfully. I can't imagine that some disabilities could prevent employment. As I believe someone said before...accommodations have to be made. If you were blind or deaf, would you not tell the truth about your disability? There is no shame in having one. My opinion....