Ever asked what felt like a harmless question and then immediately thought, “Oh no… was that allowed?”

In this episode of Buzzing About HR, I talk about one of those moments. I casually asked a new warehouse manager about old sports injuries and very quickly realised I might have wandered into dangerous territory.

That is the problem with post-offer medical questions. A lot of UK employers are trying to do the right thing, but no one has really explained where the line is. Under Section 60 of the Equality Act 2010, health questions before a job offer are heavily restricted. After an offer, you can ask them, but only if you do it properly. Get it wrong, and you are opening the door to discrimination claims that can get very expensive very quickly.

This episode breaks down how to handle post-offer health questionnaires without turning them into a legal mess. We talk about what you can ask, what you should not ask, and how to collect the information you genuinely need to support someone safely in the role.

We also get into occupational health, because that is where a lot of employers get stuck. When to refer. What to do with the advice when it comes back. And how to turn recommendations into reasonable adjustments that actually work in real life, not just on paper.

We tackle some of the nonsense too. Adjustments do not always cost a fortune. In fact, many are simple, practical, and cheaper than replacing a good person. I share examples across different roles and conditions, and how to focus on what someone needs to do the job well rather than making assumptions.

We also cover the GDPR side, because health information is special category data and needs handling carefully. Who sees it, where it is stored, and how much is actually necessary.

If you want to build a workplace that is fair, compliant, and not one badly phrased question away from a problem, this episode is for you.

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If you're not sure how your HR is really holding up, take the free HR Health Check. It's short, jargon-free, and gives you a clear score on what's working and what could do with a bit of love.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe so you never miss one, and leave a review if you've got thirty seconds. It honestly does help more small business owners find the show, and it's the cheapest good deed you'll do all week.

Got a question or need actual HR support? Find Kate at kateunderwoodhr.co.uk, email [email protected], or follow along on social.

Until next time, keep buzzing, and take care of your people.