Will YOU hire someone who is/was mentally ill?

By Ade
May 18, 2016 6:35am CST
I'm a university student graduating next year and the issue of employment have been bugging me quite a lot. I've been diagnosed with a minor disorder and have heard friends with the same condition being turned away from a job just because of scars on their wrists (even though they are stable and under legit treatment). Will you give people who suffered from mental illness a chance - if you were the employer?
5 people like this
4 responses
@Lolaze (5093)
• St. Louis, Missouri
18 May 16
Yep, but only if you don't mind having an employer who is mentally ill too ;P In all seriousness...I lost the job I got my master's degree for (6 years) because my boss found out I had a mental illness). Long sleeves and bracelets are, unfortunately, one part of needed interview attire.
1 person likes this
18 May 16
Yup I think my friend mentioned to me casually that she stupidly forgot to wear long sleeves to cover it up during her interviewer and the employer asked continuously about it and not her qualifications.
1 person likes this
@Absinto (2385)
• Portugal
18 May 16
I think it depends on the illness. iIf the person is in treatment then there should be a chance for them to work and show that they can. Or at least hire as an experiment to see if they are really capable.
1 person likes this
18 May 16
Exactly, that's what I thought so too! I mean, so long as you or me or whoever can produce results who should care if whoever is suffering from whatever mental illness. I mean, ultimately a job is about performance isn't it? Yes, no doubt that someone who's undergoing treatment might need to take time off to consult whichever doctor or therapist, but with all the talk on flexible working hours, it shouldn't be a huge problem imo!
1 person likes this
• Romania
18 May 16
If they respect the tretment and they arren't agresive to create troubble with the other employers then why not? Everyoane diserve a chanse and i don't thinck that there is somebody perfect.
1 person likes this
@flipitup (122)
• Iloilo, Philippines
18 May 16
It depends on what kind of illness does a person have and the job that he or she is applying to. Lets say the person is applying for a kind of factory job that is most likely to be repetitive and I feel that the person could do it right then I'd be happy to hire. In your case, If I was an employer I would hire you just as long as you know how to handle yourself and you know what kind of job you will be doing. Your past won't matter to me.
1 person likes this
18 May 16
Need more of such employers who think like you!
1 person likes this