Company health surveillance - do I have to take part?
Discussion
My company is introducing a health monitoring program, it says in the H+S leaflet that if I don't take part then I'll be liable for disciplinary action.
My question is, do I really Have to take part? It's not that I'm particularly bothered but it's got my back up that they are in effect threatening us.
Not sure if this is in the correct section?
My question is, do I really Have to take part? It's not that I'm particularly bothered but it's got my back up that they are in effect threatening us.
Not sure if this is in the correct section?
Check your contract of employment, it may be referred to in there.
Do you receive company funded health insurance, as it may also be a condition of that.
Can't see how disciplinary action would be invoked. I'd be wanting to ask just what action they are proposing, and why.
I hate these little hitler HR people
Do you receive company funded health insurance, as it may also be a condition of that.
Can't see how disciplinary action would be invoked. I'd be wanting to ask just what action they are proposing, and why.
I hate these little hitler HR people
From what you have said there are two sides to the idea.
One is to protect and check the welfare of the employees and ensure that their work is not having an adverse effect on their health. This is a basic responsibility of any employer if you check the statutory H&S poster which will be displayed in your workplace.
The second objective will be to protect the company (and therefore the employment of all employees) from any potential future litigation for injury, illness or disease caused by the working environment.
Perhaps an expalation of the motives would have been more beneficial than an outright threat of disciplinary action for non participation.
One is to protect and check the welfare of the employees and ensure that their work is not having an adverse effect on their health. This is a basic responsibility of any employer if you check the statutory H&S poster which will be displayed in your workplace.
The second objective will be to protect the company (and therefore the employment of all employees) from any potential future litigation for injury, illness or disease caused by the working environment.
Perhaps an expalation of the motives would have been more beneficial than an outright threat of disciplinary action for non participation.
It's a new policy so not in my contract, they have updated the company handbook to include it, which is where it says disciplinary if we don't comply with everything.
We do have company health and travel, this is as we travel to some not so nice places at times.
I'm not strictly against it, I get issues with my shoulder sporadically. If they ask if I want to see a doctor in ref to it, I'm all game. I don't really want a 'health advisor' checking my skin condition and my lung capacity etc. I have hayfever and light asthma so get funny days. It's nothing to do with my job.
We do have company health and travel, this is as we travel to some not so nice places at times.
I'm not strictly against it, I get issues with my shoulder sporadically. If they ask if I want to see a doctor in ref to it, I'm all game. I don't really want a 'health advisor' checking my skin condition and my lung capacity etc. I have hayfever and light asthma so get funny days. It's nothing to do with my job.
I'm an aircraft engineer, so whilst it's not a particularly dangerous place there are some fairly nasty chemicals. I hardly bathe in them though and a little common sense prevails.
I can see why they are doing it, as said its just really annoyed everyone by threatening people. I'm sure if asked, people would volunteer!
I can see why they are doing it, as said its just really annoyed everyone by threatening people. I'm sure if asked, people would volunteer!
If you are working in an environment where you could come into contact with chemicals (be it airborne or liquid) then the employer will need to be demonstrating to their insurers that they offer health monitoring in place, particularly lung function testing.
The insurance/employee liability insurance costs can be significant.
Also, if you develop a health problem later in life, you may decide to pursue your employer for damages. They need to have a defence against this.
You don't have to bathe in chemicals for a leak to have an effect on you. Apart from it obviously bristling with you a bit that they are forcing you to have the monitoring, I can't really see why you have an issue. Lung function tests involve blowing into a machine for a few seconds.
Your results can then give the company an indication if there is anything wrong with the environment and they can monitor you each year so that any change can be picked up quickly.
It is rare for this to be used to sack you, most companies use it to improve the working conditions. However, there is nothing wrong in asking what happens if the results are unsatisfactory.
My occupational health service has picked up on some non work related health issues with employees over the years which would have led to them being extremely ill if left untreated. (men are not best known for going to see their doctor). Make the most of a free medical check up would be my advice.
The insurance/employee liability insurance costs can be significant.
Also, if you develop a health problem later in life, you may decide to pursue your employer for damages. They need to have a defence against this.
You don't have to bathe in chemicals for a leak to have an effect on you. Apart from it obviously bristling with you a bit that they are forcing you to have the monitoring, I can't really see why you have an issue. Lung function tests involve blowing into a machine for a few seconds.
Your results can then give the company an indication if there is anything wrong with the environment and they can monitor you each year so that any change can be picked up quickly.
It is rare for this to be used to sack you, most companies use it to improve the working conditions. However, there is nothing wrong in asking what happens if the results are unsatisfactory.
My occupational health service has picked up on some non work related health issues with employees over the years which would have led to them being extremely ill if left untreated. (men are not best known for going to see their doctor). Make the most of a free medical check up would be my advice.
I used to work in an environment where there was prolonged exposure to chemicals and high levels of noise if you were on the operational side of the wall.
I worked in IT, in the offices, and only occasionally went onto the shop floor.
However, it was compulsary for all employees to have a hearing test every year, and a bi-annual health check.
As a result, they picked up on a hearing complaint that I had said was there for a while, but my GP didn't have anything to compare it with, so when I produced my hearing test records from work, I was able to get it sorted.
I worked in IT, in the offices, and only occasionally went onto the shop floor.
However, it was compulsary for all employees to have a hearing test every year, and a bi-annual health check.
As a result, they picked up on a hearing complaint that I had said was there for a while, but my GP didn't have anything to compare it with, so when I produced my hearing test records from work, I was able to get it sorted.
S3_Graham said:
My company is introducing a health monitoring program, it says in the H+S leaflet that if I don't take part then I'll be liable for disciplinary action.
My question is, do I really Have to take part? It's not that I'm particularly bothered but it's got my back up that they are in effect threatening us.
Not sure if this is in the correct section?
If you really don't want to partake and exploit the possible benefits of such a scheme, you could ask to opt out (informed dissent): My question is, do I really Have to take part? It's not that I'm particularly bothered but it's got my back up that they are in effect threatening us.
Not sure if this is in the correct section?
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collectio... )
This may ease their issue of having any liability for your future health. I would conceded however that most public/occupational health advances have been as a result of legislation and not voluntary action; think seatbelts, motorcycle helmets, hard hats at work and smoking in the workplace/pubs to name but a few. Good luck!
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