Government bans mental health questions on job applications

Employers will no longer be able to ask job applicants about their medical history prior to inviting them for interview, the government has said.

Currently employers can ask job applicants about their health before deciding whether to invite them for interview or offer them a job.

According to mental health charity ReThink the current system has lead to “shocking discrimination” towards people with “invisible” health conditions such as mental health problems.

The amendment to the Equality Bill would stop employers from asking job candidates about their health until after a job offer has been made.

Paul Corry, Rethink’s director of public affairs, said that many people with mental health problems were deterred from applying for jobs because of the current system.

“Rethink members say that being honest about their mental health history on a job application form is tantamount to writing themselves out of the job,” he noted.

Last month, youth charity YoungMinds said a lack of work can cause mental health problems in young people.