Brother can't get a job

[jonadam]

My brother has diabetes and wears an insulin pump, which works very well for him by the way. He is brilliant, young (20), and very good at presenting himself. However, he is looking for a job, and everytime he goes to an interview, the interview goes very well, but as soon as he explains that he is diabetic, and explains about his pump, he gets the door. Never gets a call back, and many of these jobs he is extremely qualified for. He applied at a hotel recently that is just opening, and our parents owned a hotel for years until they retired. So, he had the experience in the industry, and we all know hotels will hire anyone.

Has anyone here had that problem, or am I just being the over protective brother? I am a little concerned because if he can't find work soon, he only has a year left on my parent's insurance, then he is screwed with no money for his medication. Can anyone shed a little light if they have had a situation similar to this, and how it was best dealt with.

Thanks for your time,

Jon

[yannah]

why in the world does he tell anyone?
not required to do so.

[Subby]

why in the world does he tell anyone?
not required to do so.

Yannah, that's an understandable take but spoken like a true non-insulin dependent... for many of us there is not just a sense of straight forward dealing and honesty and most of all safety and shared accountability, in letting people know we are at the mercy of a condition that can (hopefully very occasionally) land us on our back through no fault of our own. I find it a point of importance for certain other people that they know, are aware. I have never passed out but who knows. I need people around me to do the right thing. I usually include those I work with.

HOWEVER THAT SAID. I agree with Yannah. If the issue has been shown to be a "deal breaker" maybe it is time to "forget" to let them know about the diabetes, get the job, show how competent and great he is, then at some stage later, they can learn about it.

[GeishaGirl]

How about he not tell until he's hired or has passed his probation period? After that, they'd be leery of firing because of a discrimination case.

I'm on insulin. I wear a pump. And yet the principal, assistant principals, and the administration of the school had NO idea I was a diabetic. Far as I know, they still don't, since I just got tenure at the end of last year. I wasn't "keeping it a secret"; my kids knew, and the department knew. Once he's hired, he should start "letting it slip" slowly.

Far as I'm concerned, diabetes is a "don't ask, don't tell" kinda condition.

[Ray4Rick]

I've been insulin-dependent for 27 years and I don't tell interviewers upfront. I agree that's it's important to let people know but when that is getting in the way of getting the job, wait until you got the job and then tell people. I don't think companies can fire you because of D. That would be descriminating.

[DeusXM]

I don't think companies can fire you because of D. That would be descriminating.

Technically, not hiring you because of D is discriminating. It's just a lot harder to prove.

[inkvisitor]

Yeah, I have never disclosed anything about diabetes at job interviews...

[networkguy]

Yeah, I have never disclosed anything about diabetes at job interviews...

Same here. I dont see a reason to. Its irrelevant.

[EeyoreButterfly]

It could also simply be the economy. My boyfriend is looking for a position as a social studies teacher right now. He has his Master's, great Praxis scores, and would be a wonderful teacher. Heck, one school district called his father (a principal in a different district) and told him how impressed they were and still didn't hire him! The truth is, there are simply too many people in the market right now and it could be as simple as that.

That being said, he is under no obligation to disclose it at the time of the interview, and nor should he. It puts them in an awkward position because technically not hiring due to a disability is discrimination. If he truly thought that was the case he could bring them to court.

Once he's hired, then he can tell them. But the job interview is not the time. Nobody likes the person who only talks about medical issues so it could be that in and of itself (and not the actual diabetes) is the turn off. If I were interviewing I wouldn't give a rat's *** about a person's medical issues or their equipment and would be very turned off by somebody who felt the need to explain.

[JediSkipdogg]

Are they telling him it's because of his diabetes? 5 years ago when I was looking around I applied at around 20 places, received maybe 3 interviews, and 0 offers. Some I was not qualified on their specific technology and some I was over qualified for, yet I was somehow qualified for part time.

I have a friend now that is looking for a job and has found nothing. Right now you have to remember that the number without jobs nearly doubled in one year. Unless you specifically know it was cause of the diabetes then I wouldn't worry. And if they said it was because of that, then he might have a discriminate suit. Of course, if he tells them of items he can't do because of his diabetes, then that could be a legitimate reason to not hire as well.

[Phantom]

I would not recommend that he does not tell anyone at the interview he is diabetic. Even though the companies are not allowed to discriminate. (THEY DO ALL THE TIME.) It is up to you to prove that they discriminated against you if you do not get the job. I know of countless cases including myself that this has happened to. The main reason is they do not understand the illness and they do not want to pay for your medical treatment if you fall ill. They rather have someone healthy with no problems. So I would not tell them unless it comes up in the interview and even then they should not be asking this question. I was an investigator before I became ill and I came across allot of these situations in the corporate world. I hope this helps you in your brothers search for a job.

[viewingpete]

The same thing happened to me 22 years ago ,i was turned down when i told them i had diabetes,Went for another interview at the same place 13 years later ,had the interview and got the job.told them afterr that i am a diabetic and they checked up and still gave me the job ,so i,d keep quiet till they said he had the job .

[notme]

I have only lost one job (interview) because of diabetes. Years ago, I applied for a position as a police dispatcher. I tested and was in the #1 position. Sadly, the police department I was applying to was a small one and that required only one dispatcher at night. I was not hired. I know it was because of my diabetes as it did not come up in the initial interview, but later it was disclosed and I was not hired. Now, I know that it was a good decision on their part. Then, I was pissed. I thought I could handle it. However, I know now that if I were alone at night and low, I could make some bad or slow judgement calls.

I would NEVER disclose up front about diabetes unless it was a job that would put others in danger if I were to have a low.

When I applied for a postion at the hospital, I got the job, and they told me later my blood sugar was high when I went in for the pre-employment physical. I smiled and told them "I know".

[CarlyD]

I would disagree about disclosing his diabetes, but would agree on some other parts. I have told several interviewers about my diabetes, and others I have not. I tell them if it comes up, like if they ask about my pump or to name a challenge I have overcome. That being said I do not search for an opportunity to tell them about my diabetes. I think it's extremely important to demonstrait in an interview that you are an honest person and have nothing to hide.

I agree though that it is likely the economy. If you combine that with a lecture on diabetes then it is unlikely that anyone will give you the time of day. I would tell hin to only tell them about diabetes if he can do so by putting a positive spin on it. Otherwise don't mention it, but don't deny it either. I always use diabetes to answer the challenges question by saying I have lowered the number of lows I had at work from 1 a month to 1 a year. That tells them that I have diabetes, but it is under control and should not affect my work. But I guess I'm the odd man out on this one.

[sarahspins]

There's no reason to disclose you are diabetic during an interview, unless you feel it would or could severely impact your future job performance. It's certainly appropriate and important to inform those around you AFTER you are hired.

If you are hired (meaning on the job), and they let you go immediately after finding out, that's discrimination and they would get in a lot of trouble - unfortunately it's difficult to prove that any discrimination occurred in just the interview process.