Inappropriate interview question, or not?

[Pigletpoglet]

In an interview for a job which involves being away from home 1 night every 2 months.
Background - Earlier in the interview, I had already commented that one of several reasons I had left my old job was that working 60-70 hours per week was incompatible with family life, and I had mentioned that I had a daughter.
I was asked at the end of the interview 'would you have any issues managing the nights away, in terms of your family commitments?'
Were they U or not? (disclaimer - I'm not convinced they would have asked the same question to the 50yr old bloke waiting to go in after me...)

I've known employees say 'yes, X is not a problem' then start to find excuses once their feet are under the desk so to speak

I've met this type of person as well, they rarely pass their probationary period.

Don't see the issue with it. You raised work and family balance as an issue and they asked you about it in the context of the prospective role.

What? Are you serious

You commented the last job you left as family commitments. (Daughter)

They then asked you do you think you'd be affected due to family commitments 

Yes they would ask a 50 year old bloke if he too claimed he left his last job due to being incompatible with family life

Completely appropriate. They were trying to weed out whether or not you can stay away for a night at a time. Who knows, you could have a situation where you can't be away from your child or vice verse.

Totally inappropriate. What they should have said is 'Are you aware the job involves a night away every few months?' You say 'yes', and thats a big difference in approach to what was said.

Don’t know if this has been posted already, but it’s actually illegal to ask questions like that regarding family life etc under the equality act as it protects those who have children/are pregnant from being discriminated against.

That is not entirely true. There are questions they cannot ask such as 'Do you have children?' or 'Are your married?' but they could ask 'Do you have any commitments that might prevent you from working the shifts we have outlined?' or similar.

You told them that your previous job was incompatible with family life. You applied for a job that clearly states that you would need to spend time away from home.
Of course they ANBU! They are checking (based on your OWN statement) that you are able to do the job you have applied for.

If they raised it because you're a woman thrn I'd say they were wrong.

As you mentioned work life balance, family commitments and fitting around your daughter as a reason for leaving a previous job then I don't think it's unreasonable of them to ask if you have something in place to make the new set up work.

From an employer point of view I would imagine they want it categorically stated that you have confirmed there'll be no issues with the staying away just in case you end up being one of those people who says yes at interview and then starts making excuses once you have the job. (Not saying you are OP btw but it isn't unheard of).

I think it's appropriate, but only if they ask everyone. If I was interviewing I'd certainly ask everyone as I'd want to make sure before hiring someone.

whitsunfells
Do they have to ask everyone because it was a follow up to some thing the OP mentioned?
Genuine question here for legal eagles. If the OP didn't raise issues with working hours and family being a reason for leaving her last job then I'd have thought it would be needed to everyone, but if she raised the issue then is that fair game for getting clarity?

I've met this type of person as well, they rarely pass their probationary period.

Last place I worked they didn't have probationary periods. So annoying as it allowed people like these to mess up the team and we had to wait until they were managed out.

Totally reasonable, it's part of the role and they need to know u are able to commit.

I interview for a role which invokes oncall and late night working. I ask male and female if they are able to commit as it's a requirement of the role.

No I don't think its inappropriate and how you so sure they wouldn't have asked the man the same thing ?