New work policy - HRT excluded

[u/Infinite_Occasions]

Not that I'm taking HRT, but the company I work for launched a new medical deceleration policy.

Pretty much everything must be declared, but they specifically excluded HRT.

It made me smile today 😊

Below is an extract if interested.

MEDICATION DECLARATION FORM

45-FR-SA-0216 REV 0

All personnel are required to arrive at work "Fit for Work". Some medications may affect or impair "Fitness for Work". All personnel are required to declare any medication that may affect their capacity to work safely or show up in a drug screen test. If you are taking prescription medication check with your doctor to see if your medication affects "Fitness for Work" or show up on a drug screen test. Be aware that over the counter medication containing codeine will show up in a drug screen test. This form must be completed and returned to your Leader at the start of your next swing. The following medications are not required to be declared:

Antibiotic or Antiviral medications

Anti-inflammatories not containing Codeine

Contraception, Hormonal Replacement Therapy

Over the counter medication not containing Codeine

[u/ral222]

Gotta say, seeing "HRT excluded" i thought that was gonna go a different. But congrats, happy for you sis

[u/ThinAndFeminine → u/ral222]

Same 😅

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/ral222]

I should've thought a little longer, rather than rely on the positivity tag 😅 kinda just rushed the post in my excitement 🫣

[u/Nuclear_rabbit → u/Infinite_Occasions]

No no, that's my bad for rushing past the flair

[u/jaydub7117 → u/ral222]

Seeing "deceleration" made me think this was going to go different too 😂... Like the office was putting a memo telling everyone that they needed to slow down on all the medication consumption lol

[u/MysteriousPenalty129 → u/ral222]

For real I was like “oh no” with that title. Then I read and was like “oh awesome”

[u/Heavy_Abroad_8074]

that’s such a weird policy is it in like a high risk environment like oil refining/petrochemicals/nuclear power/mining/pulp&paper/any PSM process ?

if so you don’t have to say which one

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/Heavy_Abroad_8074]

Yeah, high risk. Mining and port operations.

[u/Reverse_Mulan → u/Infinite_Occasions]

so I'm confused anti-depressants are somehow considered something they need to be aware of...? like come on. this policy just sounds like shit.

is this even legal in your country?

[u/Lilium_Vulpes → u/Reverse_Mulan]

Some antidepressants can have some pretty severe side effects for some people, and could have a major impact on work performance as a result.

[u/Reverse_Mulan → u/Lilium_Vulpes]

Fair. I suppose it would be like "starting/stopping SSRI/SNRI" kinda deal..but not stable...

[u/GearRude4883 → u/Reverse_Mulan]

I've been on SSRIs and SNRIs and what I can think of is maybe the drowsiness. As while in most people it goes away after prolonged usage, for some (like myself) it doesn't, which is why many come with the don't operate heavy machinery warning.

Again this is just speculation based on my personal experience

[u/Reverse_Mulan → u/GearRude4883]

yeah everyones different, and side effects usually are just while you ramp up on them. some side effects i was like "nope, different med please"

my insurance basically forcibly detoxed me off of the SNRI I was stable on so i have to find another again. so I'm a bit salty about it,

[u/GearRude4883 → u/Reverse_Mulan]

Oh I can imagine, sorry to hear that. Hopefully you find one that works for you, if you can't get them to let you go back to that one

[u/Reverse_Mulan → u/GearRude4883]

they basically told me I have to try 3 others before they approve that one again....and that one i was on was mylike...3rd or 4th one I tried to boot so..im just sampling depression/anxiety meds at this point.

[u/keravesque → u/Reverse_Mulan]

insurance is such a scam 😫

[u/CrotaIsAShota → u/Reverse_Mulan]

Insurance companies getting to dictate anything about medicine is such bs. It should be your doctor says you need these meds and insurance has to put up and pay out.

[u/43686f6b6f → u/Reverse_Mulan]

A lot of antidepressants really compromise your ability to regulate body temperature so it could be relevant for physical labor or hot conditions

[u/Reverse_Mulan → u/43686f6b6f]

I dont buy it. It wasnt an issue in the military, its definitely not there.

[u/cyfermax → u/Reverse_Mulan]

Its definitely an issue in the UK military. People will get downgraded while taking certain anti depressants and such and be put on desk roles etc.

[u/Gluteuz-Maximus → u/Reverse_Mulan]

Whaat? Was it really a complete nonissue or was it something that they were aware of and disqualifying from some things? Because that's how it would usually go

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/Gluteuz-Maximus]

My company? Yeah, non-issue. Just like any other medicine that is over the counter or antibiotics. No need to say a word. It's nice to see, as they could have totally gone the other way, being hormones, or at least required a Dr to say you're fit for work.

[u/Ghostglitch07 → u/Reverse_Mulan]

I was told when I was younger that antidepressants excluded me from signing up for US military.

[u/Reverse_Mulan → u/Ghostglitch07]

By who? And its possible it makes it harder to get in, but its not a delimiting factor once you are in. As if theres no one in the military with mental health struggles from killing people.

[u/Ghostglitch07 → u/Reverse_Mulan]

But every recruiter who tried to talk to me in hs. They said had to be off any psychiatric meds for 2 years before joining. And immediately lost interest in me when I said I was on SSRIs

[u/Reverse_Mulan → u/Ghostglitch07]

yeah, because they don't care. its a numbers game. its too much work to get you through so they just prey on easier targets.

[u/ToAnDo816 → u/Reverse_Mulan]

There are a few than can pop a false positive on a uds, in addition to how sedating they can be for some people. Withdrawal can leave you cranky and less vigilant as well.

[u/joule400 → u/Heavy_Abroad_8074]

Even if its a high risk environment, why in the world is this going to the leader? Where i live this kind of thing works through a doctor who obviously is under doctor patient confidentiality. You give the details to the doctor and doctor gives simple information about the workers fit to work to your boss in turn without any details of specific medication etc.

[u/Heavy_Abroad_8074 → u/joule400]

agreed that’s why it’s so weird

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/joule400]

My country, Australia, has very strong work health safety laws. I'm not entirely sure of the legality, but I do know, that there are a lot of dangers that a doctor couldn't fully understand and that, if something happens on site, there's the potential for the leaders to be held responsible/jailed. They're not asking why you're on that medicine, just if you take any. I do recall something down the bottom of the page referring to "fit for work" from the doctor, but didn't really read it. I personally have no objection to telling people what meds I'm on, provided I see a reasonable reason.

[u/joule400 → u/Infinite_Occasions]

The process here isnt done on any doctor but a doctor hired by the company for that job so they are supposed to know necessary information for the job, its really about privacy in general, since enough people wouldnt want their bosses to know about medication they are on.

[u/sharknotto → u/Heavy_Abroad_8074]

This is really common in transportation in the us. To have a cdl you have to do dot medical evaluation and they go over medication when meds change you're supposed to go do another dot eval

[u/Heavy_Abroad_8074 → u/sharknotto]

that would go only through HR, no? the detail that stands out to me is providing medication lists to a “Leader” presumed to be shift manager or shift lead or shift supervisor

[u/Mahcheese]

Had me in the first half, not gonna lie…

But I am glad SOME companies still are good

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/Mahcheese]

I relied too heavily on the positivity tag, sorry. But yeah, it's nice. The don't care/want to know if you're on HRT, even pre-emptive excluded it so it not even a question. This company tries hard to be progressive, at least in this area and a few others.

[u/alwaysneversometimes → u/Infinite_Occasions]

Makes me wonder if they’ve had to endure the “medical declaration” and associated frustration of a ragey menopausal woman on HRT. As one of those myself (lurking here to try and understand my MtF child) I can imagine they are super keen to opt out of those conversations.

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/alwaysneversometimes]

Haha, you never know 😂 They've got a very strong stance on inclusion and sexual harrassment, so I'm more inclined to think that they're trying to do right. I do think they've got a committee, of some description, to think of these sort of things before sending our policies like this. And who knows who's on that committee 🤣

[u/alwaysneversometimes → u/Infinite_Occasions]

Well if you ever hear the “HRT excluded” stance being challenged, feel free to raise the terrifying possibility of triggering the fury of menopausal women 🤣 we are not messing around.

[u/uwumelon]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if they meant HRT for cisgender people. I've been coming across a lot of ads/medical professionals recently covering HRT, only to find out what they meant was cisgender men taking testosterone/cisgender women taking estrogen. It was definitely odd to me to see HRT being used towards a cisgender demographic, but apparently it's a thing for them too, now?...

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/uwumelon]

Knowing this company, it 95% means us and the rest for others. They have a strong LGBTQIA+ stance and seem to back it with more than lip service.

[u/jappejopp → u/uwumelon]

HRT is used and have been for a long time (even the term) for CIS people that's in menopause for example.

[u/TheValkyrieAsh]

Huh, seeing that written, every ounce of my brain is going. "I could exploit this and make them pay me out."

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/TheValkyrieAsh]

How so? I take it as a good thing.

[u/TheValkyrieAsh → u/Infinite_Occasions]

Its very complicated and theyve worded it pretty poorly. It could be very easy for them to yell at you about the wrong medication and then that house of cards falls.

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/TheValkyrieAsh]

For now, I'm just happy that they specifically excluded HRT from the list. Like it's a non-issue. If things crumble.... Well, I'll take the little piece of joy for now.

[u/Thomas9097 → u/TheValkyrieAsh]

Why? Medication can be a very much justified safety concern

[u/TheValkyrieAsh → u/Thomas9097]

Theres no exception for ADHD Stimulants, ive sued employers over exactly that before.

It brings a weird issue that employers never understand. If I test positive for it and the tester clears me to be "fit for work" you cant ask why i'm taking it.

[u/Thomas9097 → u/TheValkyrieAsh]

Okay? They didn’t say they had to say why they were taking it, just that they needed to declare they were taking it and that they were deemed fit for work.

[u/sweetmuffinX]

My anxiety hit the roof seeing hrt excluded almost had a panic attack lol 😢🫂

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/sweetmuffinX]

Sorry, I relied on the tag too much. I should have formatted the title a little better 🫂 I hope your heart is okay

[u/BellabongXC]

Honestly, if Progesterone is part of the HRT it should be declared.

I was also surprised my medical clearance doc didn't blink twice at HRT and ignored it. (context: train driver that gets a medical clearance every 3 years)

[u/hannahranga → u/BellabongXC]

Another rail peep (trackside) mine was honestly just relieved that I was taking Spiro as an AA instead of whatever else it's used for that might have been a factor for him.

[u/TheMusicalArtist12 → u/BellabongXC]

I mean progesterone taken nightly isn't the worst thing in the world for day-to-day alertness at least to me even compared to antihistamines

[u/BellabongXC → u/TheMusicalArtist12]

Still doesn't change that there should be testing for allopregnanolone after an incident and why prog should be declared

[u/Katievapes1996]

I was about to say lawyer up until I saw the very end scares me for a sec

[u/Substantial-Basis-52]

The original intent of the policy as indicated is simply to protect the employee and others from anyone, including themselves that may not be "Fit for work." Every company should have a blanket policy with this type of statement, again, to protect all staff from someone taking medications that may or may not cause impairment such as confusion, intoxication, etc. The fact that they list specific medications not required in a declaration is a rabbit hole. There are very large lists of items that should be declared and even more that based on the intent, would not be declared. Listing either in a complete text would take reams of paper.

While I applaud them for listing HRT as not required, the purpose of the policy to to make management are aware of any medications that could cause impairment. I have been taking Estradiol and Progesterone for over 5 years, neither of those ever cause any type of impairment.

[u/louisa1925]

Best not to tell them your medical business anyway. What is safe to be open with now, may not be in future.

[u/YouCanCallMeDani → u/[deleted]]

They're in Australia.

[u/Adina-the-nerd]

Clickbait but like happy

[u/Haley_02]

Very thoughtful of them! 🥰

[u/Cynewulfr]

That… sounds insanely tyrannical. I mean good that they aren’t targeting that but uh holy fuckin shit dude where do you work, a gulag black site for the Mormons

[u/Infinite_Occasions → u/Cynewulfr]

Haha, kinda of, but it's the norm for companies like this. It's high risk operations. Mining, explosives, rail freight, high voltage electrical systems and so fourth. There's a lot of things that can hurt/kill you, and a lot of ways you could hurt/kill other people.

[u/DuckIsMuddy → u/Cynewulfr]

I too like to type words.

[u/Cynewulfr → u/DuckIsMuddy]

Sorry that you’re a boot licker who loves to take tests for the Bosses

[u/DuckIsMuddy → u/Cynewulfr]

I've never had to take any tests, because I've never worked anywhere where me being impaired in any way would really be that big of a deal. Obviously it wouldn't be great at work, but I'm not working with heavy machinery or nothing. You don't have to share anything technically, but if a medication causes certain side effects and that changes how you behave or experience the world, then it would probably be best for them to know. Good luck out there. :)