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New job medical check-up – is it compulsory? |
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Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
I was told I had been been ‘convoked’ for a visite médicale d’embauche (asked to attend a medical examination on starting my job). I said, “Tell me what documentation you want – I’ll get a doctor to fill it in” and was told: “No. It must be our médecin de travail”. I wouldn’t mind receiving your pearls of wisdom as to what legal obligation I’m under.
Alison (Aquitaine)
Jo Stirling replies:
I’m afraid all employees are legally required to visit the work doc for an examination after being taken on for a job, either before starting it or at the latest before the end of any trial period. The aim is to make sure you don’t have any dangerous diseases that could be transmitted to your co-workers, and that you are physically fit (apte) for the job you have taken on.
Salary will not be deducted if this takes place during working hours, and will be compensated for if it occurs outside of them. Thereafter, the visit will be annually, and also after any absence for professional sick leave, for maternity leave, for non-professional sick leave of at least 21 days or for repeated sick-leaves.
Any employee can ask for a medical examination if he wishes, but the other side of the coin is that refusal to submit to one is a serious offence and gives the employer the right to dismiss the refuser.
If you pass the exam you will receive a certificate of aptitude, and any results are subject to medical secrecy
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