Pre-employment medical examination: a fundamental step for the professional.

Pre-employment medical examinations are mandatory and ensure the safety of both the company and the employee. Read the text to learn more!

What is a pre-employment medical exam?

It is an important and mandatory step in selection processes when a company decides to hire a new employee.

This exam is listed in article 168 of the CLT (Consolidation of Labor Laws), in case you don't know what CLT is.Read our text and find out!

The examination should also be carried out periodically, upon termination of employment, when there is a change of function, and upon return to work. In these situations, a Workplace Health Certificate (ASO) is issued by an occupational physician.

The article also mentions that the doctor may require other complementary exams to determine the candidate's capacity, physical or mental aptitude for the job they are to perform.

To learn about the professional's background, it is necessary to fill out some forms and answer certain questions during the consultation.

In addition to that, the healthcare professional also needs to be aware of the physical requirements for the job, information provided by the company.

With the necessary examinations and information, the doctor can give a "verdict," that is, affirm whether or not the candidate has the capacity, physical or mental aptitude necessary to perform the activities of the position they are applying for.

The most common tests at this stage are:

Blood glucose;
Complete blood count;
Electrocardiogram;
Audiometry.

Additional tests are used to verify that the professional is physically fit to perform the duties of the position.

In many professions, this factor is indispensable, for example, in risky activities or those that require physical strength.

Below are three important steps in its operation.

1. Medical history

It's like an interview. The doctor asks the professional several questions to better understand their physical and mental health history.

2. Physical and Psychological Assessment

After the interview, the doctor performs a complete clinical examination to determine if there are any underlying occupational diseases.

In addition, physical and psychological measurements are taken.

3. Additional tests

Additional tests are requested in specific situations or when a professional is going to perform an activity that requires a specific evaluation.

Therefore, these exams are performed according to the job function, for example: drivers need to undergo a supplementary visual acuity exam.

How much does a pre-employment medical exam cost?

The price varies due to different factors, mainly from region to region. However, it is not usually very expensive.

The average price ranges between R$50 and R$60.

Pre-employment medical exam: who pays for it?

This exam is mandatory and failure to take it can lead to legal problems. The mandatory nature of the exam is associated with the associated costs. pre-employment medical examination and complementary services are the company's responsibility.

The employee pays nothing, only the travel expenses to get to the clinic.

Usually, the company already has a designated location for this procedure and is also responsible for scheduling it.

Even if you don't do that, provide your phone number and address so the staff member can schedule the exam.

The candidate should not go to a clinic on their own, only to the location specified by the company.

After the consultation, the clinic sends the results to the company.

What documents should I bring?

In short, you will need an identification document and the form that will be given to you by the company.

The employee can ask HR if they need any additional documents, but usually not, as the company sends the information to the clinic in advance.

What causes a professional to fail?

As already highlighted, the pre-employment medical examination It is a crucial step in the employee hiring process.

Although it is an elimination round, it is not actually a pass or fail exam. In fact, it serves to verify the clinical conditions for performing the job.

Therefore, if the professional fails the pre-employment medical examinationYour hiring may be terminated by the company.

Generally, the reasons for rejection are related to problems that may prevent the candidate from performing their duties correctly within the company.

It's important to emphasize that the exam should not be discriminatory. A very common example is that it's not legal to request a pregnancy or HIV test, for instance; these issues should not be used as grounds for failing the exam.

Let's look at a legitimate example that could disqualify you at this stage of the selection process: a company has an open position for a driver for the night shift.

Among the tasks, the professional needs to drive during the night without stopping. The pre-employment medical exam will help the company determine if the candidate is attentive and able to drive for several consecutive hours.

If clinical trials prove that he is unable to perform these activities well, he will fail.

In other words, the exam will serve to verify whether or not he is fit to perform the job.

Therefore, the reasons for failing the exam are mostly related to the job requirements for the position the professional is applying for.

If you are familiar with the job responsibilities and know you can perform them without complications, you don't need to undergo a nervous breakdown.

What is the importance of the pre-employment medical examination?

Because it is mandatory and required by law, it must be carried out so that the parties involved do not suffer legal losses.

However, its importance goes beyond that. With this examination, the doctor issues a certificate of functional capacity (ASO).

Among the information contained in this certificate, we find the employee's health history and also the possible risks associated with the functions he/she performs at the company.

This information serves to guarantee the physical integrity of the professional, because if he is not fit to perform the function, the company cannot force him to do it.

Aside from that, if he has acquired a problem as a result of activities performed at work, in addition to being responsible for the treatment, the company cannot fire him until the situation is resolved.

On the other hand, the company also ensures that the employee does not file a lawsuit claiming that they contracted an illness during their short time working there.

Certainly, it is an important procedure to ensure the safety of both the company and the employee, and it can protect both. Therefore, it should not be neglected.

THE pre-employment medical examination It is also essential for guiding the organization in relation to employees with special needs.

Furthermore, it helps to have legal backing and ensure that the rules are followed, preventing, for example, potential workplace accidents.

Which tests cannot be requested by the company during the hiring process?

As mentioned in a previous topic, some tests should not be requested during the admission process, as they have a discriminatory nature.

This behavior is considered criminal and subject to legal punishment, according to the law. Number 9029/25, of the Federal Constitution.

In other words, the tests that cannot be requested in pre-employment medical examination they are:

Pregnancy test;
Toxicological;
HIV;
Sterilization.

The penalty for companies that violate this law can be up to 2 years of imprisonment and/or a fine.

Do I have to be fasting to take the test?

No. This procedure does not require any preparation. If a complementary examination is needed and requires any preparation, the professional will be informed.

When you take the pre-employment medical exam, are you already hired?

When we are called to take the entrance exam, we know that we are closer than we are to being hired.

However, if the results do not meet the company's established standards, the company is not obligated to hire the candidate.

There are cases in which he can be reassigned to another role where the test results do not interfere with his current activities.

Conclusion

As we can see, the examination pre-employment It is an important procedure for the safety of the professional and also of the company, in addition to being required by law.

Therefore, it is very important to know your rights and responsibilities in this situation in order to do everything correctly.

Certainly, today's text has already cleared up many doubts about the subject. However, to give you a complete experience, how about checking out some companies with active job openings?

4 companies that are hiring in 2023 ➔ See how to work at Fretebras. ➔ Accenture has opened job vacancies. ➔ Opportunity to work in a bank. ➔

On our blog you'll find more active job openings at large Brazilian and multinational companies, as well as tips for the selection process and much more!

Don't miss out and watch your career take off!

Nara Sampaio

SEO writer, digital content creator, and virtual assistant. An introvert who found in writing a way to express herself and share knowledge!

February 27, 2023

Career