Work and discrimination

I am no expert in this area either.

I understand that Queensland employers are able to ask you about all health issues before employment.

One of the other posters talks about this as well on the Discrimination and Work topic and talks about legislation that was introduced to allow employers in this state to ask those questions.

I am not sure about all of the other state jurisdictions. but I think that they dont allow the question to be asked.

From what I was told I took it that I could be fired if I had not disclosed my mental health status.

I think there are some other complex issues about non disclosure that probably need some expert opinion and/or advice. I am sure this subject has been very well discussed and researched before in detail but it would be helpful to understand the legal situation of :

(1) Not being asked and therefore no need for disclosure as opposed to

(2) Being asked and not disclosing.

I think as a topic for Topic Tuesday would be great.

Coincidentally, I found this article online this morning

http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2014/08/11/4064793.htm

Its an interesting article with different opinions, which I had read before but its non definitive, ahtough it does touch on issues such as being "managed out" post disclosure etc.

Ït seems to say disclosure is OK if the boss and your colleagues are fine with it, but of course many are not.

It would be good though to have someone on to talk about the general area. Particularly within the professions where it is mandatory, like the police.

Yes, the disability employment service I used said it was up to me if I told or not but inferred it was better not to. Sort of defeats using a disability employment advocate!!!

Queensland might be a particular case, but employment of people with MI in this state is very difficult. There seems to be so many issues relating to the employment of people with MI, its hard to know where to start.

One thing I think would be good if it was possible to get the Disability Discrimination Commissioner to take part in a live forum as these issues fall within her responsibility.

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if anyone was watching ABC news this morning (around 9:30am), but SANE CEO Jack Heath was speaking about SANE's work & the forums.

I was very excited to hear that the journolist who was interviewing Jack mentioned he had a look at the Lived Experience Forum last night & referred to this discussion about disclosure in the workplace. It started a discussion about how more work needs to be done about mental health discrimination in the workplace.

It's so important to express your opinions, you never know where it's going to end up.

Thank you everyone for being so open and sharing your thoughts on the important issues that affect you.

I will try and find the audio/visual of the interview or at least the transcript, and post it here.

Did anyone else see it?

Hopefully there may be an opportunity for Sane to do a follow up in depth interview with one of the broadsheets. Its worth looking at.