Woman claims NUIG job contingent on filling out form

A lecturer who initially refused to fill out NUI Galway’s pre-employment health assessment questionnaire because she felt it was “invasive” was told that a job offered to her was contingent on the form being completed.

The young woman, who has asked not to be named, also says that she was required to fill out the controversial questionnaire in addition to taking a medical check-up, which included a breast exam. She has questioned the confidentiality of the forms, and says that the questionnaire was returned to Human Resources and not to the occupational health physician.

She contacted this newspaper about her experience after the Galway City Tribune revealed last week that there was unease among staff about NUI Galway’s health screening of prospective employees.

A different, senior lecturer at the college complained that the occupational health questionnaire for prospective employees was “invasive”, “misogynist” and “excessively personal”.

Among the questions asked are: “Do you suffer with any problems with your menstrual periods? Do you suffer any breast problems? Have you ever been treated for gynaecological problems?”

NUI Galway’s assertion that the questionnaire “replaces the need for a face-to-face questionnaire” and that it “is a confidential process between doctor and patient” has been challenged by a female lecturer.

She was required to complete the form after taking up temporary employment in 2013.

“It did not replace a face-to-face medical consultation as I was also asked to undergo such a consultation as part of the employment process,” she said.

The lecturer added: “It was also made clear that I was required to both complete the form and undergo a medical check up, which was quite lengthy. I do not have any medical issue which would require me to undergo a medical exam to declare me fit for employment.

“I initially refused to complete the questionnaire as I felt it was unnecessarily detailed, invasive and misogynistic. I have had to fill in various medical forms as part of the recruitment and employment process at other Irish academic institutions as well as for other employers.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune