Health employment questionnaire “discriminatory” says AIDS Foundation

Quebec AIDS Foundation has posted a petition addressed to Health Minister Barrette, denouncing pre-employment questionnaires as “discriminatory” in the health system.

It happens regularly that capable and competent people are denied employment in health facilities after reporting being ill with chronic diseases or infections such as HIV / AIDS, deplores the Foundation’s President Sylvain Laflamme.

Checkup

“It’s already hard to live with HIV without having to encounter obstacles of this sort. Work is important for social inclusion. According to a survey in 2009, 40% of employers would not hire people with HIV. This data speaks for itself. Perception hasn’t followed the scientific progress of this disease” raises Laflamme.

Several health facilities have a very intrusive pre-hiring questionnaire about the candidate’s past or current health problems, he notes.

“On our telephone line Info-Droit, “discrimination when hiring” is the second most sought subject, after insurance,” says Laflamme.

According to the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights, only the questions relevant to the qualities or abilities required by the job should be asked. The pre-employment form should not amount to a complete checkup.

The petition launched by the Fondation québécoise du sida will be available by the end of June on the pratiqueillegale.com site.