Employment law SOS: managing mental health issues

Employees are not legally required to volunteer information about their physical or mental health to a prospective employer. There are, however, reasons why it may be to your advantage to tell your prospective employer about your condition. Bipolar disorder is likely to be a 'disability' under the Equality Act 2010 so, once your employer knows that you suffer from the condition, it will have certain additional duties towards you. This could include reasonable adjustments to your workplace or working conditions if you are placed at a substantial disadvantage. If your employer is unaware of your condition, it cannot be expected to make any adjustments to accommodate you, or make allowances for you if, for example, your performance or attendance is affected by your condition. Thus, your employer's ignorance of your illness may affect decisions it makes about you to your disadvantage. If your employer has asked you to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire for a valid reason, then you ought to do so truthfully, otherwise it may have grounds to dismiss you without notice or warning for your dishonesty. Finally, if you take medication or your condition could affect your safety at work or that of others, then you should let your employer know. If you don't, you could be in breach of your obligation to take care of your safety and the safety of others.