Can we ask about applicants’ health before making a job offer?

There is no statutory provision in NI which prevents employers from asking pre-employment health checks or questions. Therefore, these can be legitimately conducted in NI provided they are compatible with the Equality Commission’s best practice guidance and general disability discrimination and data protection law...

Section 10G of the Equality Commission’s “Unified Guide to Promoting Equal Opportunities in Employment” deals with medical questionnaires and assessments, and notes, at Section 10.G.1 that it is “generally permissible for employers to seek information from job applicants... about their health, such as by asking them to complete medical questionnaires, or to undergo medical