Inappropriate interview questions

[30andgrey]

I just turned down a job offer because I deemed these questions inappropriate….AIBU?

1. How many times have you been on maternity leave during your current employment?

2. What are the details of your childcare arrangements?

3. What does a normal day look like for you in terms of balancing raising a young family and a senior post?

The above questions were asked in a telephone conversation after a panel interview.

Anyone else think these are extremely discriminatory?

I turned down the offer that was 4 pay scales higher than my current role because it seemed like they were asking me to prioritise work if it came to it and I had to go over and above to assure them that being a parent would not hinder my ability to do the role.

Would love to know if I’m an idiot for turning down a whopping pay increase or if I am reasonable for thinking it would have been a nightmare to work for an organisation with this mindset.

Absolutely awful

Name and shame. Go on!

Please tell them precisely why you have rejected the offer

They are discriminating against you due to family circumstances

You could leave an anonymous review of your experience on Glassdoor

A company has a right to know how you balance work and childcare - think about if YOU owned the company, would you want to employ someone who would likely be off on maternity leave soon after starting? Or absent frequently for childcare issues? It does work both ways.

Is it legal to ask such questions?

ignore my question I see it's been answered.

@beanii

A company has a right to know how you balance work and childcare - think about if YOU owned the company, would you want to employ someone who would likely be off on maternity leave soon after starting? Or absent frequently for childcare issues? It does work both ways.

Jesus. Read the thread. A COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS UNLESS THEY ALSO ASK MEN.

I had a reply that said that this suggestion is “baseless and insulting”

"So were your questions..."

I don't know if I'd actually do this, but I'd be tempted to email them saying further to our telephone conversation I am writing to confirm that I have to decline your job offer due to xyz questions being asked, legalese discrimination quote blah blah.

Then send them a discrimination questionnaire from acas to fill out and give them a lot of paperwork to do give them a headache even if I didn't sue!

Wow! But you'd be surprised how often these questions are asked.

I work in HR and was once quizzed at an interview by two women about when I was going to have kids.

Several (male and female) managers have openly told me that they won't employ women in their 30s as they get pregnant and it costs too much to cover their maternity.

Female workers are often told to concentrate on their kids as they won't want a career when they work part-time.

It's a constant battle...

Those questions were discriminatory and illegal - complain and threaten to sue

Bravo ! That was a dodged bullet !

Mine was ‘ what does your husband do for a living ?
Me - ‘I’m not married’
Interviewer - ‘ oh I’m sorry I thought you said you had a daughter’
Me - ‘I do’

Silence cringing all round

A company has a right to know how you balance work and childcare

Only if they also ask men these questions.

think about if YOU owned the company, would you want to employ someone who would likely be off on maternity leave soon after starting?

And this would be discrimination

Or absent frequently for childcare issues?
You shouldn't be asking these questions and if you did you need to make sure you are also asking men.

If you make a recruitment decision based on any of this information then it would be a clear case of discrimination.

@ThePlumVan

Bravo ! That was a dodged bullet !

Mine was ‘ what does your husband do for a living ?
Me - ‘I’m not married’
Interviewer - ‘ oh I’m sorry I thought you said you had a daughter’
Me - ‘I do’

Silence cringing all round

What a Victorian train of thought!! Id be more embarrassed for him than for myself.

Those questions are unlawful and you could actually take them to an employment tribunal.

If you can be bothered an employment lawyer could help you.

They obviously have an agenda. You shouldn't have had to turn it down but they are clearly telling you they are not family friendly. I would be amazed if they had asked a male those questions.

Newyearnewtwatname is absolutely
Right.

They shouldn’t know if you have kids or are married!! These are personal not professional requirements. You shouldn’t put this on your CV or even refer to your personal life in an interview. It’s a job not a relationship!

@beanii

A company has a right to know how you balance work and childcare - think about if YOU owned the company, would you want to employ someone who would likely be off on maternity leave soon after starting? Or absent frequently for childcare issues? It does work both ways.

Actually they don't Beanii. As you would know if you read some of the many links people have posted on this thread.

I'm fairly sure that these breach the Equality Act as I doubt a male applicant would be asked how many times he'd been on paternity, or shared parental, leave.

I'm also sure that it's not appropriate to ask about childcare arrangements (I doubt it's legal) - an employer says the hours are Xam until Ypm, located at Z, and an applicant then decides if they can accept those terms.

I think you have had a lucky escape as I definitely get the feeling you would constantly be viewed as 'the female manager', or have you work allocated to you according to someone else's concept of your abilities based solely on your gender.

It sounds like they didn’t want a female for the role and made sure they A: got their ( pretty sure illegal) questions asked and B: put you off anyways
Name n shame.
Ask for the transcript back - send it to ACAS or similar : we simply MUST stop this crap !
*probably would’ve tried to pay you less a woman, anyways. Fuck them. Onwards and upwards , Op

Nando’s ask a skin tone ethnicity question. I think that’s like profiling.
The questions you were asked sounds a bit unreasonable and possibly illegal.

I don’t think they’re allowed to ask these questions…..

@HarrietsChariot

Given that they offered you the job I don't think you'd get very far claiming discrimination. Clearly your answers to those questions, or your refusal to answer them, sent out the right messages that you were the person for the role.

Not a given, discrimination is discrimination and the questions made it clear to OP she couldn't make the job work.

That's discrimination on grounds of sex.

Sigh. Why is this still a thing? I was asked in an interview back in late 80s if I was planning on having a baby anytime soon. I blushed and said no. These days, I would have given them both barrels.
And yet, similar is still happening. Very depressing.

Wow. I work in HR and if a company asked those questions in Ireland they would be sued and have to pay out a lot of money. Outrageous in this day and age. Definitely get legal advice, obviously will be different in different countries

These questions are discriminatory. They wouldn't ask them of a man. And judging by their response you definitely did the right thing.

Any workplace that hints you should prioritise work above your family wouldn't be a good place to work, trust me.

I have recently moved jobs myself. I'm a Head Of, part of SLT. I was the same in my previous role. I knew I had to move when they started hinting I should prioritise them above my family at all times. In one incident my boss outright ignored me for a week because I had to work from home because my daughter's school bubble were having to isolate during covid. He would also WhatsApp me on my personal phone during weekends and get arsy if I didn't immediately reply. In one meeting he said "don't you dare get pregnant again" when I mentioned I'd recently met a friend and their new baby.

You made the right choice.

They can’t ask those. It’s discriminatory, would they ask a man?!?! Avoid them I think and report or point out to them that their interview process appears to be unfair.