Return To Work
 

Hello Everyone; I'll just jump right in here
I am going to attemp a return to work soon, and when I get that interview I know some questions will be asked such as;
What was your last job? Why are you not working there any longer?
The date of my last job ect....

I have been out of the work force for 3 years, although I don't like to lie I feel that if I told the prespective employer that I had a trade I loved and am no longer able to do it because of a work place injury they would run the other way. I feel that not saying anything is also like a lie. How does one handle this and still feel like you doing the right thing?

How does one explain why they have been out of the work force for 3 years?

Any comments or thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks in response for your comments,
Hairdresser

I think you could also validly say that you felt you needed a change so you went back to school...truthful yet you are not disclosing why.

You could also have been "caring for a sick family member" (you are obviously a member of your own family) adn now that person no longer needs as much of your attention so you are free to return to work.

You are not required to disclose any personal information about yourself, your family or anything else. (like are you married, have kids, etc) An employer may NOT discriminate due to disabilities, either, and you are not required to disclose these things unless it affects your ability to perform certain job functions, i would think (obviously, we could not get hired to unload grocery trucks, for instance, if "lifting boxes up to 50 lbs" was one of the job requirements.

i had not thought about this too much yet, myself. Good question to bring up, thanks!!

Some Advice
 

Hi All...

Finally something I can answer with certainty!!!
I have been in your position, and I also work in Human Resources. I can tell you that you should NOT disclose that you had an injury. Say you went back to school or was home with kids..etc....but do not talk about work related injury.
I tried for over a year to find a job and no one would hire me because I was being honest. I talked about this with numerous HR professionals that said the same thing....do not disclose your injury. I decided to use that advice when I applied for the job I am doing now. I didn't disclose, got the job and felt like crap cause I felt like I was lying. What I did do, was slowly talk about my injury until it was all out. Now, everyone knows, I have my job and no one can say anything because legally they can not ask, or fire you because of it.
Just my thoughts and opinion...:rolleyes:

Good luck with your job search.
Rach

Hi,

What a fantastic question. I have thought about this often. In Australia we are usually asked at the interview and sometimes in a question/answer sheet before hand, if we have ever had a work place injury. If you say yes, 99% of the time you will not get the job and if you say no and they find out later that you have, you can be sacked.

If you TOS is not workers comp related, I wouldnt tell them you have it, thats your business. I would say you have been caring for either your kids or a family member. If you are changing you occupation you could tell them that you just need a change of pace and would like to try something different.

I honestly cant see myself getting a job again, i know it sounds sad but who is going to employ someone that has been off for 2 years? I have been healthquested (sent to a Government health Dr) and told that currently I can work 6 hours per week over 3 x 2 hour days, with no office work or working too much with my arms and a 10 minute break every 30 mins????? I could just imagine going for a job interview with that information.

Good luck and I hope you find a nice, reasonable employer.

Ozzy

I would LOVE to have the ability to even think about doing a job without the pain and swelling.

I WANNA GO BACK TO WORK SO BAD

Me thinking. Got to have a really good answer for this one. :hug:

If it were me
 

Hairdresser,

I would just say you had some health issues come up that you had to take care of.

They won't have any idea what that is and most likley, won't ask.

You are being honest, and health problems can happen to anyone.

If the employer is a good hearted person, they will see past that and see what you have to offer.

Just my opinon!

And I would add that the problems have been properly dealt with by the doctors, and family, and that they are now resolved, and you are MORE than ready to dive back into life and get back to YOUR career path, (this implies that maybe it wasn't you?) and that you're eager, excited, full of energy and ready, ready and ready!

Plant a BIG SMILE on your face, have a great updated resume and some great references and just GO FOR IT.

For my first law job, I had to issue 225 resumes and specialized cover letters and I got only 2 interviews, but landed the ONE job. Three years later, it took 175 resumes and specialized cover letters and again, only 2 interviews but I got the one job.

Every job paid me higher, whether I was laid off or quit.

And, by year TEN in my career, the jobs sought me out, not the other way around!

So don't give up, get discouraged, or let 'em stop you. It's YOU against the rest of the world, and YOU are worth it!! YOU have value! YOU are unique!

These things are absolutely true.

Hello everyone and thanks for your imput. Rachael your idea is good, let them know slowly.

Hairdresser
 

It really did work for me. I had to get it all out in the open because I knew surgery was coming, when the doc called and said I would be done by Christmas and I would get no notice, it made things easier for me. As you know, most people on W/C are painted with the same brush....lazy and want to work the system....that is how a fair amount of employers view us. In honestly, although in my previous job I did try to hire people on W/C with their return to work program, none of them worked out. Legally in Canada, an employer can not ask you any health questions. If you bring it up, they can basically discriminate against you because "YOU" brought it up., and it's very hard to prove. If they ask you questions and you answer, you could have a case. Unless W/C is involved with your return to work, you have absolutley no obligation to tell anyone anything. My boss was really great but let's look at the full story shall we.....
The year before I got this job, they had posted the same job. W/C called them and asked if they would be interested in working with them with someone on W/C. I had applied for the job and didn't even get a call. They had told them they were not interested. When the job was posted the second time months later (their first pick did not work out) I applied and did everything myself and made no mention of injury. They did ask me why I left my previous job, I said I had an opportunity to return to school and did. No lies there. In conversation with my boss and others I worked with I never held anything back. I just started talking about my injury...never using the "w/c" words.....
Then it all came out and by then they were so pleased with my work everything was ok. He asked me why I didn't say anything and I told him the truth. That I really wanted a chance to work and I was getting nowhere being honest and he respected me for it. Basically you better feel the waters first and then gradually start with small stories until it is out.

I hope you make out ok. May be heading to your area soon....I will let you know.

Rach:winky:

Don't disclose
 

It's a difficult spot to be in and from what I've read so far, I'm not the only one who tried the honest route and got the "we'll call you" comment.

I worked in HR as well for a year + and if the words injury/medical reasons/w/c came up I was supposed to pass on the applicant. In fact, when my manager told me that my general manager "would not want anything to do with an applicant because she was out on w/c" (she had a cast on her foot) I said " I have an open comp case, does that make me a bad person? " She never commented...long story short, I gave my notice the next day (Friday) and I was termed on Monday.

There are some good suggestions on the previous posts as to how to handle the lapse in employment. Another that was never questioned while interviewing was when someone was in self employment. They Can't verify it because you were your own boss and that goes for back ground checks as well.

Technically, I'm self employed, I sell a couple things on e-bay here and there. So that's how I'll be covering my work history.