pre-employment fitness tests?

[fix-this!]

okay so on friday i was offered a really good job where i live here in michigan. i was told they would be sending me an email that i needed to read the terms of my employment contract and accept them and then fill out my formal application + background info for checks. i did all of it this morning the minute i received the email today. i also went in today to do my drug screening. i was told my start date was next monday at 9am. so here i am all excited and then i get another email from human resources saying i need to complete a fitness test before i start work. now ive never had a fitness test for employment before but ive read alot of horrid things online where these companies are looking to save on health care and can be super picky with who they hire based on your overall health and lifestyle.

im a 35 male in decent shape, i do smoke and have for 15 years. im not fat but have gained a few pounds from being out of work since april. i do take care of myself though and i think im in decent health other than having acid reflux which is a pre-existing condition ive had for years. i don't get sick alot...maybe twice a year from what my kids bring home from school. well you get the point. but yes im worried about this fitness test, this is a maintenance job, not rocket science here. what if i don't meet their criteria of being overall fit?

i wrote human resources back and they tell me that my start date could be moved back if the test results do not come in by monday. so basically i was offered the job and have written confirmation but now they can not only push my start date back but deny me the job if i do not meet there criteria. is this legal? i mean ive never had a company offer a job before they do all of the screening first hand. im a bit worried here to be honest as i just passed up two other job opportunities today based on the job current offer. now im sorta regretting turning them down.

should i keep looking for work again until im for sure starting this job? im really confused & frustrated here. :blink:

this is also a very large nationwide company here, not a mom and pop outfit. deep down i think this is how these employers are taking advantage of the unemployed in the US. no wonder soo many people are leaving michigan.

[SaltLife]

If you were offered a conditional offer, than yes you could be disqualified. I've not heard of the public sector doing fitness tests though.

If it was a conditional offer than yes always continue to actively search for work.

Did they say what the test would be?

[fix-this!]

If you were offered a conditional offer, than yes you could be disqualified. I've not heard of the public sector doing this though, my experience is with LE positions.

see to my knowledge this was not a "conditional" job offer. i even read the fine print. ive never seen anything like this before. talked to a few friends and my dad and they too are shocked. just something seems fishy to me.

edit: just read the email i got this morning again and all it stated was my job title, pay scale, benefits and my start date. i had to review it and submit my acceptance to them via email.

[SaltLife]

see to my knowledge this was not a "conditional" job offer. i even read the fine print. ive never seen anything like this before. talked to a few friends and my dad and they too are shocked. just something seems fishy to me.

edit: just read the email i got this morning again and all it stated was my job title, pay scale, benefits and my start date. i had to review it and submit my acceptance to them via email.

Yea, if it was a conditional offer you would know. It's a part of the ADA, and is done to protect the rights of people with disabilities. Check some of your earlier paper work as well, just in case.

Did they mention at all what the test would include? It could just be a simple drug screen and to ensure you can lift a set amount of weight. And from what you've said it should be a non-issue

Just read you did the drug screen, I find it odd that they would send you out for another medical after you have already been in for a drug screen. That strikes me as odd. Typically they roll all of the medical into one shot. Perhaps someone messed up, IDK

[fix-this!]

Yea, if it was a conditional offer you would know. It's a part of the ADA, and is done to protect the rights of people with disabilities. Check some of your earlier paper work as well, just in case.

Did they mention at all what the test would include? It could just be a simple drug screen and to ensure you can lift a set amount of weight. And from what you've said it should be a non-issue

i already did the drug test today. im not sure what the fitness test involves. but from what ive read online some of these employers can be very picky in today's market on who they hire based on your health. the problem is i do not know what is considered acceptable health standards to get this job. i just don't like the fact they say im hired but in reality im not. just because i think im in good shape does not mean im what they consider in good shape, know what i mean here?

[fix-this!]

heres an email i just received from human resources.

"Hi Mark,

I completely understand your questions and worry over this. But, this is all normal. We don?t conduct the background, drug, and fitness test until you accept the job offer. Assuming that all three tests come back fine, then you will start. So, yes, you do have the job on the basis that you pass the pre-employment screenings. Every job we have goes through this process.

When do you have your fitness test?"

so basically i don't have the job yet but they gave me a start date? ive never seen such a backwards company in my life. maybe i should reconsider this job. :pinch:

[Rodrigo]

Just do the fitness test? The worst that could happen is that you are not fit enough to their standards. Why should you even reconsider taking the job just because they are asking for a fiteness test?

[fix-this!]

Just do the fitness test? The worst that could happen is that you are not fit enough to their standards. Why should you even reconsider taking the job just because they are asking for a fiteness test?

i am going to take the test. my issue is they said i had the job and gave me a firm start date. now i find out it is conditional, when they should of said that from the get go. i possibly passed up two other opportunities today based on their ignorance. just because i think im healthy doesn't mean i meet their standards. maybe you work man but i do not and i have a family to support. in case you haven't noticed it's almost impossible to get a job anymore. i mean people with bachelors degrees are applying for burger king, that's how bad it is.

for example i smoke and i have gerd. they may find that to be a risk in hiring me. get my point? i actually just called back one of the jobs that called me today for an interview. i apologized and asked if i could come in to meet with them anyways. just to be safe here.

[steelcurtain]

How is it their ignorance? I'm confused I guess!

[fix-this!]

How is it their ignorance? I'm confused I guess!

you don't tell someone their hired and give them a start date and give me wage info and what not and then neglect to tell me that it was all contingent upon me meeting their standards. i can understand the background check and drug test but not the fitness test. if i was told this from the get go i could understand and id still be looking for work. my acceptance letter specifically stated for me to report to work next monday at 9am. it didn't say do not go in until we say it's ok to do so!

heres a bit of what the job offer letter stated:

Thank you for taking the time to complete the new hire paperwork. Below is a list of the other documents needed on your first day. Please review in order to expedite this process. Your orientation contact will review and print out these documents for your signature. Please bring required identification. Welcome to the team. We look forward to working with you in the future.

The time and location of your New Hire Orientation is listed in the first paragraph of your offer letter. Business casual attire is appropriate. During this session, you will learn more about the company's history, benefit programs and have the opportunity to address any questions regarding your new hire paper work.

Edited August 10, 2010 by Growled

[steelcurtain]

We look for to working with you in the future? That is one clue, but who knows!

[fix-this!]

We look for to working with you in the future? That is one clue, but who knows!

no that means they are welcoming me to the team and look forward to working with me. im just wondering if i should tell them about my stomach issues and my smoking? i hate lying but i need this job. i don't consider having acid reflux a disqualification for work but who knows what standards they have set?

[Anibal P]

Offering a job and then requiring a series of tests is normal these days

[fix-this!]

Offering a job and then requiring a series of tests is normal these days

im my experience they give the tests and do the checks before the job offer happens. but then again the way the economy is in the US i think these companies make things up as they go along.

[Rodrigo]

i actually just called back one of the jobs that called me today for an interview. i apologized and asked if i could come in to meet with them anyways. just to be safe here.

That's actually smart of your part.

I get what you are trying to say though. You didn't accept the other jobs because you accepted that one thinking you already had it (and I suppose it's a better pay than the other). Your solution right now is to make the fitness test and well, hope for the best.

You should never cancel job interviews or anything like that before you are already in your desk working, or doing whatever you do. :p

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

now ive never had a fitness test for employment before but ive read alot of horrid things online where these companies are looking to save on health care and can be super picky with who they hire based on your overall health and lifestyle.

Glad I don't live in the US if that's true!

[fix-this!]

Glad I don't live in the US if that's true!

we can thank obama for this. they could deny me solely based on me smoking. that's why im worried ya know. and they wonder why soo many people are on unemployment for years. i know ill pass the background & drug part but the fitness test i have no clue.

[SaltLife]

It certainly sounds like they offered you a conditional offer, however like I said, I'm pretty sure they are legally required to disclose that information to you. I'm not an equal rights lawyer nor educated in any regard to this.

But, as far as falsifying information in order to obtain employment, that is a big no-no. If you do see a doctor and it turns out you lied you can kiss that job goodbye (let alone the moral implications).

I would go ahead and continue in the process, just because you have no other alternative at this point. But I would also continue to search for additional employment opportunities. Also, check their website for any information that you can pertaining to the 'fitness test' to see what they are weeding out. I would suspect that you have the right to know.

Perhaps someone on here is educated on this manner. Especially if they did not disclose the fact that your offer was contingent on other factors.

[fix-this!]

It certainly sounds like they offered you a conditional offer, however like I said, I'm pretty sure they are legally required to disclose that information to you. I'm not an equal rights lawyer nor educated in any regard to this.

But, as far as falsifying information in order to obtain employment, that is a big no-no. If you do see a doctor and it turns out you lied you can kiss that job goodbye (let alone the moral implications).

I would go ahead and continue in the process, just because you have no other alternative at this point. But I would also continue to search for additional employment opportunities. Also, check their website for any information that you can pertaining to the 'fitness test' to see what they are weeding out. I would suspect that you have the right to know.

Perhaps someone on here is educated on this manner. Especially if they did not disclose the fact that your offer was contingent on other factors.

yeah im not going to lie but i guess ill have to start looking again to be safe. ive read the full acceptance letter 5x and it doesn't state anywhere that this job was conditional at all. i mean this is a maintenance tech job, ive never seen anything like this before.

another reason i think this is fishy is because they sent me all of my tax forms and even the employee handbook with contact numbers. you don't do that on a contingent job offer.

[Rodrigo]

i mean this is a maintenance tech job

Then why you worry so much? It's probably just a routine check or something. I don't think you need to be physically fit to be accepted on the job.

[fix-this!]

Then why you worry so much? It's probably just a routine check or something. I don't think you need to be physically fit to be accepted on the job.

a regular exam at a doctors office is much different than doing a full blown fitness test. and yes i agree i shouldn't need this for the job i was offered. maybe because i think i could be in better shape? i never expected this.

[mduren2445]

They are just checking for pre existing condition for health care costs..they don't want you to 'get everything fixed' when you get health care. I bet you will find once the test is over they will say they won't cover this or that or worse they withdraw their offer due to your health. example you said you smoked and if you had problems they may back out. I'm way overweight so if I had to do this I might not get the job because of weight...But I hope it just a nuisance and you get the job and do well

[DavidM]

They (employers) often do it this way so they don't have to pay for testing everyone who applies, they pick a #1 guy and he goes and gets tested if he passed it's all good, if not #2 goes and gets tested.

Coke did this to me, no biggie, if the job has lifting requirements that's what they will focus on. Let us know how it goes, being out of work sucks!

Good Luck!

[fix-this!]

They are just checking for pre existing condition for health care costs..they don't want you to 'get everything fixed' when you get health care. I bet you will find once the test is over they will say they won't cover this or that or worse they withdraw their offer due to your health. example you said you smoked and if you had problems they may back out. I'm way overweight so if I had to do this I might not get the job because of weight...But I hope it just a nuisance and you get the job and do well

exactly my point and im thinking this as well.

[clotz2000]

Yeah dude, according to your description you are more than fit for that position. They are just making sure they aren't hiring a 380lb guy that can't walk and has cancer to be their maintenance tech. You'll be fine, don't worry about the test, and also I've found that employers will and can do almost anything conditionally depending on how their HR policies and such are written, so there's no point in trying to get upset about that. Hope that helps clear it up, although I'm no expert, but I think that's what the company is essentially doing and you should pass through with flying colors! ;)