REALLY? !

Being directly asked about Hepatitis C status in an interview is rare, but possible. Although this may not seem fair, some employers ask questions like this during the interview process. It is legal for them to ask as long as they ask this of every potential employee. It pays to be honest here, because lying can legitimize firing.

I wouldn't disclose it. Also, it's always better to get a job prior to disclosing any disability as there are protections for people if they are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Many are valuable employees and some employers are very flexible.

Here's the site for ADA though.

http://www.ada.gov/

NEW RULES FROM MANAGEMENT:


SICK DAYS:
We will no longer accept a doctor statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

SURGERY:
Operations are now banned. As long as you are an employee here, you need all your organs. You should not consider removing anything. We hired you intact. To have something removed constitutes a breach of employment.

PERSONAL DAYS:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday and Sunday.

VACATION DAYS:
All employees will take their vacation at the same time every year. The vacation days are as follows: Jan. 1, July 4 & Dec. 25

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE:
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or coworkers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend to the arrangements. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early, provided your share of the work is done enough.

OUT FROM YOUR OWN DEATH:
This will be accepted as an excuse. However, we require at least two weeks notice, as it is your duty to train your own replacement.

RESTROOM USE:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the restroom. In the future, we will follow the practice of going in alphabetical order. For instance, all employees whose names begin with 'A' will go from 8:00 to 8:20, employees whose names begin with 'B' will go from 8:20 to 8:40 and so on. If you're unable to go at your allotted time, it will be necessary to wait until the next day when your turn comes again. In extreme emergencies employees may swap their time with a coworker. Both employees' supervisors in writing must approve this exchange. In addition, there is now a strict 3-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, and the stall door will open.

LUNCH BREAK:
Skinny people get an hour for lunch as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy, normal size people get 30 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain the average figure. Fat people get 5 minutes for lunch because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim Fast and take a diet pill. Sondra gets none.

DRESS CODE:
It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary, if we see you wearing $350 Prada sneakers and carrying a $600 Gucci bag we assume you are doing well financially and therefore you do not need a raise.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternations or input should be directed elsewhere. Have a nice week.

-- Management

this dangerous territory and I see where this is going - if gene expressions indicate your high likelyhood of cancer then you will not be employed becasue of the cost of chemo protocols for the insirance companies. Same applies for HCV Tx I suppose - they (insrance companies) wanna keep the costs down

Yeah but any really good slick-ass lawyer could argue that because of Obama care they cannot discriminate because of pre-existing conditions, or create a separate pricing tier for employees with pre-existing conditions and the severity of their condition...

So by law all employees would pay the same premium regardless of whether or not they have a pre-existing condition and I know that this will be challenged with the supreme court deciding the legality of this as well as genetic testing prior to employment especially if the employee doesn't even have the condition ar the current time upon seeking employment with said company.

Respectfully,
HANK

Total personal choice. I chose to tell my boss and all my coworkers. I think because I was so frank and honest about it that it was easily accepted. I have received a huge amount of love and support from everyone there. I realize I am lucky to work in such a supportive environment. But I wasn't the first employee with a serious condition. I have worked other places in my life that I might not have disclosed.

I didn't tell anyone at work...they knew I was going through some sort of treatment, but I never offered details, and the administrator didn't ask. My boss asked and I told her I had immunity issues....that seemed to appease her. When I was first diagnosed, I was so freaked out that I told my boss...it was a knee-jerk reaction that I later regretted.

Sandy - i bet she thought you had HIV. Secretive + "immunity issues"....but so what. I think it's no one's business but our doctors, ins co and us...and whomever else you feel would be supportive.

I was dx while working and told no one. If i had stayed working while in treatment, I might...probabaly would...but i've been getting by pretty much by telling people a half-truth: I am anemic and docs are working on getting my HGB and HMCRIT #s up. Anyone who asks more, I have said they think it's likely "chronic disease anemia" which is very hard to treat. It does NOT respond to iron.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

But I was SHOCKED, tho, that they could ask you in an interview! ? !

You're probably right, Rass, and it probably freaked her out which is why she didn't ask anymore questions. lol Works for me!

YUP!Q Someone on this list (forgot who, maybe kramer???) told me HIV is actually less stigmatized today than HCV! More educational outreach.

Well I was coinfected with HIV and acute HCV. I'm way more comfortable talking about HIV as there is so much less stigma with it these days. I was bothered by the stigma last March when I learned of my dx. Stigma was a huge concern and for many others here too. We had big threads on the subject. I felt the stigma like from when I was dx'd with HIV in the mid 90s. Not so much anymore though having treated and also knowing where tx is going soon.

In not too many years, it will largely be eradicated in industrial nations and the stigma will fade quickly. As these regimens get shorter and with minimal to no sides it will be like treating a bacterial infection with Abx. I love that there are 8-week trials being tested. Many here know I'm still hoping for the morning after pill for those oops moments.

Peace to all heppers and my hippie hepper.