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[TheSadRanger]

For some background I'm 6ft, about 165 lbs 31 years old and fairly healthy, I exercise and drink tons of water, I don't hit the booze to hard but have maybe a few beers a night. Anyways I was working a crappy part time job because I got laid off from my last good one. I got a new full time job offer that I wanted from a company so I left my old part time one.

Between interviews and the drug testing/physical it took about 3 weeks to get to the drug testing/physical stage which was today. I don't take any prescription medications or narcotics so I didn't fear taking a urine test at all.

Anyways the clinic was about a 40 minute drive away through a highway that's pretty dangerous and notorious for accidents. So driving through it can be pretty stressful, I've also had quite a bit of stress lately due to finances and finding a full time job.

So I had the drug test today and everything went well, I peed in the cup. We get to the physical test and they check my blood pressure before hand, they said my blood pressure was kind of high and that they wanted to retake it before doing the physical. They tell me to lay down and then take it 10 minutes later and it's still kinda high. So they tell me to see a physician and let work know what happens.

I called work and told them about the situation and they called back and said they weren't moving forward due to the high blood pressure thing. I told them I was stressed and asked if I could try again and they said no.

I don't know what to say really, I'm kind of shocked. I can do the job just fine, isn't this technically discrimination? I thought the ADA (Americans with Disabilities act) was supposed to prevent this type of thing. I live in Texas btw.

Is there anything I can do or should I just let this slide and try to find a new job?

I'm gonna go play basketball because I'm pretty bummed out by this so I might not check back on the thread for a while.


edit: The job was a sales rep position which required driving a company vehicle.

 

[Ryaaan14]

Isn't there some sort of liability issue if you have health issues and they require you to operate a vehicle/machinery on company time?

 

[Oppo]

uh that sounds kind of fucked up, denying you based on a medical condition that is fairly common.

 

[C-Drive]

I know for some commercial class licenses you have to pass a blood pressure test when it's time for renewal. So I'm guessing same rules apply here.

 

[gblues]

If it's a sales job and your excuse is "I was stressed out," that's not really helping your case. Sales is a high-stress job. If your blood pressure is high due to stress, it's going to be high on the job, and there's liability issues that go along with that.

Have you talked to your doctor about it? High blood pressure isn't something to ignore. You have a better shot at getting a re-do if you let them know you're under the care of a physician and successfully managing your blood pressure.

 

[TheSadRanger]

Isn't there some sort of liability issue if you have health issues and they require you to operate a vehicle/machinery on company time?

I could understand if I was epileptic but I feel fine, I don't have any symptoms like shortness of breath or loss of vision or balance like I'm going to have a heart attack.

I'm just stressed and it was a bitch of a drive to get to the clinic.

I'm pissed they won't even allow me to try again.

 

[akira28]

if you were working out the night before *good excuse*, then your blood pressure would be elevated.

But really in the interview process they use anything and everything to weed out people they don't like. If you REALLY want to work there, sure, file a claim. Can't hurt. I mean it can, but you're tough, right?

 

[yankeeforever2]

For high blood pressure, that is fucking insane.

 

[TheSadRanger]

if you were working out the night before *good excuse*, then your blood pressure would be elevated.

But really in the interview process they use anything and everything to weed out people they don't like. If you REALLY want to work there, sure, file a claim. Can't hurt. I mean it can, but you're tough, right?

I was already through the interview process though and had a job offer

I guess I could have responded better but it all happened so quickly..

 

[kiunchbb]

Strictly speaking, they are not even allow to take a blood pressure test as part of employment.

edit: After reading a bit about it, the guy that quoted me was right, they can't do physical examination during the interview, but they are allow to do so after they offered you the job.

 

[weekend_warrior]

I bet that makes you angry, huh?

 

[Hex]

Driving through a bad neighborhood will not make your blood pressure high enough to be considered worrisome levels unless there are other issues at play.
If it is a bit above normal, there is cushion.

 

[Hex]

Strictly speaking, they are not even allow to take a blood pressure test as part of employment.

Do not give false information.
You do not know what kind of job this is, nor the requirements for it nor do you know what was agreed to.

 

[Rubenov]

Low carb diet helps with HBP.

 

[GhostWriter24]

A "few beers a night"?

 

[riotous]

I'm guessing they don't have a typical insurance plan, but instead offer "employer paid" health care. (usual gets billed through a major health insurer but your employer pays 100% of the covered amount.)

It's creepy in a number of ways, requiring a physical to get hired being one of them.

 

[TheSadRanger]

A "few beers a night"?

2-3, I don't hit the hard liquor.

For clarification it was only a few notches over at 162, they said they needed it below 160.

 

[RSTEIN]

I exercise and drink tons of water, I don't hit the booze to hard but have maybe a few beers a night.

A few (ie 3+) a night is hitting the booze hard.

 

[Tesseract]

take deep, shallow breaths next time

your oxygen was probably low

 

[RPGCrazied]

Odd. I've never, ever heard of a job not hiring someone for high blood pressure. Didn't even know it was a factor.

 

[Hex]

2-3, I don't hit the hard liquor.

For clarification it was only a few notches over at 162, they said they needed it below 160.

120/80 is normal just as a metric point for you

 

[Marcus]

does this job require you to operate machinery or are there any dangerous elements to this job? that's all i can think of really

 

[The Adder]

2-3, I don't hit the hard liquor.

For clarification it was only a few notches over at 162, they said they needed it below 160.

Dude, that's extremely high. I was put on meds temporarily to get mine down from 140.

 

[Hex]

Odd. I've never, ever heard of a job not hiring someone for high blood pressure. Didn't even know it was a factor.

I think someone mentioned it, it can depend on a few things but one is if the company has a blanket health insurance.
The other is if it is considered a stress job.
Some companies are also starting to try and screen out those who would be a risk for missed time by having health risks.

 

[RevDM]

120/80 is normal just as a metric point for you

150/90, unless he has diabetes in which case it would be 140/90. 120/80 is no longer the case.

edit: I got the 150 number from AFP website, I dunno where they got it. Collect your pitchfork before posting

 

[Meadows]

You probably don't want to work for a company that would refuse someone on these grounds anyway.

Bullet dodged.

 

[Sectorseven]

Next time take a Viagra before the test.

 

[Kite]

Companies can decline to hire you for any reason they want, high blood pressure is a possible insurance liability they they may not want to gamble with unless you have some super special skills to bring.

 

[Hex]

150/90, unless he has diabetes in which case it would be 140/90. 120/80 is no longer the case.

Everywhere I have seen, even on the documents my doctor gave me when I was told tone it down or go on meds that would be considered hypertension.

 

[RevDM]

Everywhere I have seen, even on the documents my doctor gave me when I was told tone it down or go on meds that would be considered hypertension.

I am a doctor. The guidelines have changed

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1791497

 

[BadHand]

A few (ie 3+) a night is hitting the booze hard.

2-3 beers a night (assuming 330ml cans/bottles) is within the recommended guidelines off 3-4 units per day.

It's hardly "hitting the booze hard" by any stretch.

 

[Deadbeat]

OP, you should have said it was white coat syndrome.

 

[entremet]

Sounds genetic.

Are you African-American OP? I remember reading about a gene that was more common in African American populations that gives you a predisposition for hypertension outside of diet.

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-in-african-americans

 

[RevDM]

Guys, let's be real here. OP didn't not get the job because of his blood pressure. He didn't get it because he was drunk at the interview.

 

[akira28]

I was already through the interview process though and had a job offer

I guess I could have responded better but it all happened so quickly..

ah, that sucks dude. Thing is, you can press it, and win and be right, or you can win and stir bad blood and then hate working there. Talking to someone about wrongful discharge issues is low risk at least.

 

[Hex]

I am a doctor. The guidelines have changed

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1791497

From what I see it says so the panel recommends a BP of less than 140/90 mm Hg for those groups based on expert opinion.

Still a better cushion than before.

 

[Deadbeat]

Guys, let's be real here. OP didn't not get the job because of his blood pressure. He didn't get it because he was drunk at the interview.

The OP never reveals all the facts in the first page. That happens later on. Just play along and wait for the juicy bits to arrive.

 

[idlewild_]

2-3 beers a night (assuming 330ml cans/bottles) is within the recommended guidelines off 3-4 units per day.

It's hardly "hitting the booze hard" by any stretch.

The CDC classifies 15+ drinks a week as 'heavy drinking': http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#heavyDrinking

 

[Bloodrage]

I guess they don't want you dying in the workplace.

 

[Hrothgar]

It sucks that this was done so late in the hiring process, ypu feel you are already in, only to be turned down at the last second.

But man 2-3 beers every night is not some light drinking.

 

[terrisus]

My wife was denied a driving job because of her blood pressure as well.
It happens.

 

[BadHand]

The CDC classifies 15+ drinks a week as 'heavy drinking': http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#heavyDrinking

15 drinks of what?

21 units of alcohol per week and no more than 4 units per day is within recommended guidelines.

 

[Alrus]

150/90, unless he has diabetes in which case it would be 140/90. 120/80 is no longer the case.

We're taught aything over 140/90 is worrisome, diabetes or not, in my university. Guess it depends on the location?

160 systolic pressure if very high OP. You should probably get that checked, HBP isn't something to take lightly.

And while it's kind of shitty what they've done, it's because such blood pressure is considered a relatively high health risk in the long term, so they probably didn't want to take that risk.

 

[Envelope]

15 drinks of what?

21 units of alcohol per week and no more than 4 units per day is within recommended guidelines.

not if you already have hypertension

 

[I Stalk Alone]

EPA, DHA. eat some fish man and decrease your atherosclerosis while you are still young.

 

[idlewild_]

15 drinks of what?

21 units of alcohol per week and no more than 4 units per day is within recommended guidelines.

Since it's a US org, I would assume they 1 drink ~ 1 beer/glass of wine/shot.


edit: yeah: http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#standDrink .6oz alcohol is one drink (~17.74ml)

 

[RulkezX]

15 drinks of what?

21 units of alcohol per week and no more than 4 units per day is within recommended guidelines.

Drinkaware, drinksmarter and the NHS (uk) website put 3 330ml beers at 35 units per week.

Drinking everyday isn't normal, though neither is sky high BP because you were on a shitty road for 40 minutes.

 

[BadHand]

Since it's a US org, I would assume they 1 drink ~ 1 beer/glass of wine/shot.


edit: yeah: http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#standDrink

Seems an inaccurate way to measure alcohol consumption.

Beer/Wine/Spirit strength is all over the map.

Drinkaware, drinksmarter and the NHS (uk) website put 3 330ml beers at 35 units per week.

Drinking everyday isn't normal, though neither is sky high BP because you were on a shitty road for 40 minutes.

OP says 2-3 beers and it depends on ABV%

 

[old manatee]

You probably don't want to work for them anyway if they are going to be dicks right out of the gate.

 

[MetalFearSolid]

Sad to hear TheSadRanger , don't worry you will bounce back. You seem like a guy that values physical health. Did you go see the physician like they recommended and get his take on your results? Perhaps you were stressed for a quite bit of time, than you realized. I am not the best at recommendations when dealing with stress relief, but yeah just have a good time, hang out with friends, try to laugh and try not to always think about the job loss, which isn't as easy I make it seem.