Auckland eatery comes under fire for asking job applicants if they are on medication

November 18, 2018

Food store chain Wishbone is accused of being “invasive” with its request from job applicants.


An Auckland High street eatery, Wishbone, has come under fire for asking potential employees in its job application whether they are on medication, and if so, to provide details.

The Green Party says the question is “incredibly invasive" and could hold potential legal ramifications.

The student, who doesn’t want to be identified, is studying for a master's degree.

She applied for part-time work at the Wishbone café chain and was surprised to see the question about medications on their application form.

The 28-year-old student says she takes Ritalin for ADHD and Escitalopram for anxiety.

She didn’t disclose her medications on the form and felt she had to lie to get the job.

The student says she feels uncomfortable about lying but was scared that if she didn't she wouldn't have been employed by the company. 

“Definately, you don't know what they're going to do with that information. I mean, have they turned down people because they've been on certain medications?” she says.

The Human Rights Commission says it’s illegal to discriminate on the basis of a disability, including mental health.

Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick says asking for a shopping list of the medications that people are on, without any clarification on how that information is going to be used, is both invasive and potentially discriminatory.

Wishbone has not responded to 1 NEWS’ request for comment.

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