Managing Diabetes at Work: Can Employers Request a Fitness Certificate?

Can a diabetic employee be asked to produce a medical certificate of fitness to attend normal duties? I would like some clarity on dealing with such cases.

Dear Kenneth Dias,

You have asked a query but have not mentioned the nature of the duties of the employee. Secondly, what type of diabetes is it? Is it Type I or Type II?

Symptoms and Work Considerations for Diabetic Employees

Symptoms of diabetes often include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased appetite. Therefore, diabetic patients can be given office duties. Since diabetic patients take time to heal their wounds, they may be given jobs that have less chance of physical injury. As the sugar level fluctuates for the person with Type I diabetes, they may not be given duties that require climbing heights or jobs that are physically arduous.

Diabetes in India

In India, diabetes is the third leading cause of death. It is a lifestyle disease. Due to improper lifestyle habits, it is spreading rapidly. It has even affected children as well. However, there is no need to dread it.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

@ Kenneth Dias, Presuming it is Type-2 Diabetes, you can ask for a medical certificate from such candidates, along with reports on blood pressure, ECG, and eyes (Diabetic Retinopathy test).

Hi, It depends on the role and responsibility of the employees. For what purpose are you collecting the medical fitness certificate? Is it to ascertain their physical fitness for a particular job or just for filing purposes for policy's sake? I am not sure. If it is a normal certificate, in today's scenario, a medical fitness certificate can be easily obtained from doctors.

However, if the nature of the work demands good physical fitness, then the company may appoint a doctor to examine the new joiners before joining. Candidates may be advised to submit necessary lab reports (like HbA1c) to ascertain their sugar levels.

As per the Factory Act, a medical/fitness certificate is mandatory for all employees. Therefore, asking for information about a specific disease or individual is not appropriate. However, for diabetic patients, it is acceptable to request additional information related to their condition. Diabetes is a disease that requires extra precautions, such as maintaining physical activity, exercising, taking morning walks, and controlling food intake.

Hi, @O.B. Gautam, it is "disease" and not "decease." The meaning of "decease" is different.

What is the context for the employee being asked to provide the fitness certificate?