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Can a temping agency ask this stuff??!?

by bubu2000 23 April 2012 |

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Signing on with a temping agency, I've been asked to complete a rather worrying medical form: enquiring about everything from my drinking/smoking habits, mental health, to gynaecological problems! Now call me cynical but I've been around long enough to know that nothing is private any more, so I wonder where this form is supposed to end up, and where it will actually end up. Should I mention the syphilis, ha ha?

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879

MikeGG1 posted
They can ask for any relevant information. The problem is that the agencies recruit for all sorts of different jobs and so design their forms to cover everything they might need.for any of their jobs.

Your other problem is that the data might get stored outside the UK out of reach of the Data Protection Acts. You have a right not to permit that, but they have a right not to put you on their books. The US has an equivalent to the DPA but many other countries don't, such as India.

Mike
Posted on 23 April 2012 | Love 0 loves Report
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bubu2000 posted
Thanks Mike. It's made me think a lot about discrimination - when I see the ethnicity forms, I welcome them as a sign that someone, somewhere, is trying to make sure that they employ people without prejudice. However this feels like the complete opposite!
Do you think there is any protection, or are the agencies under any duty to protect, the private nature of this information? If I really did have a gynaecological problem, what's to stop them printing off the form, having a good laugh in the office, forwarding the form to the potential employer with my CV, and leaving it lying around if I was lucky to get some low-paid temping work there for a week? Looking at the list, I'd say 90% of the population has suffered from at least 1 of the ailments listed there. If I refuse to complete it, I guess that looks as if I'm hiding something?
Posted on 24 April 2012 | Love 0 loves Report
879

MikeGG1 posted
They ndo mhave a duty of care under the Data Protection Acts but it would be very difficult to police.

It is a CATCH22 situation.

Mike
Posted on 24 April 2012 | Love 0 loves Report

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