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Original poster

Are these normal questions for a job application?

83 replies

Teton4 · 20/06/2025 12:30

I've been applying for jobs recently as I'm considering a change, and this is the first time I've come across this particular question.

I do have a disabled child, but I don't require any adjustments to be made, so I'm unsure of the relevance in this context....

Are these normal questions for a job application?
OP posts:
AudHvamm · 20/06/2025 19:56

ElsaPeretti · 20/06/2025 13:05

The free school meals/care questions tend to be from organisations who try to prioritise hiring people from disadvantaged or less privileged backgrounds. Some organisations also extend this to ex Armed Forces personnel, prison leavers, and other groups who may face barriers in finding employment.

Disability questions are asked so that if you meet the minimum essential requirements for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under the Job Interview Guarantee Scheme, and also so that if there are any reasonably adjustments needed, they can be taken into consideration for interview/working environment and practises. Also disclosing access needs at application stage means that preliminary applications can be made for specialised equipment under the Access To Work scheme, which usually takes a few months to get the funding for, so the earlier it can be flagged, the faster you or a future colleague can have something like Dragon text to speech software, an ergonomic chair, or even a sign language interpreter at a job interview.

The trans/gender/sexuality questions will be for (confidential) EDI monitoring so they can make sure their workforce is representative/in line with general statistics.

The one about caring responsibilities in my experience is so they can be mindful of other commitments you may have outside of work.

They may seem blunt or clunky but they tend to be an organisations way of ensuring that they have inclusive hiring practises and working environments, rather than a tool to ‘exclude’ candidates. I often recommend that organisations add a one liner to the top of those forms to explain why the questions are being asked in order to reassure candidates, because they do seem to be frequently interpreted from a ‘fear of exclusion’ viewpoint rather than a ‘reassurance about inclusion’ one if they’re just laid out cold like this.

[Source: I work in inclusive recruitment policy and equality impact analysis for government organisations]

Show quote history

Yes to all of this (I work for an inclusive employer) although I find the depth of questions for hiring and service delivery in my sector to be intrusive & question it as practice.

OhcantthInkofaname · 23/06/2025 02:02

In the US all of these questions would be considered illegal.

EmpressaurusKitty · 23/06/2025 05:42

Itallcomesdowntothis · 20/06/2025 19:24

Honestly give over. Those are two very different things and your passive aggressive response is goady at best.

Show quote history

But it’s true that AI responses on legal questions should always be double-checked.

Any EDI form that asked about gender identity but not sex would put up red flags for me.

Flyswats · 23/06/2025 06:06

If you can put N/A I would do so for each of those questions. or the "prefer not to answer" option on ALL of them.

theodozya · 23/06/2025 07:07

Meadowfinch · 20/06/2025 12:39

I was asked that during the application process for a public sector job.

I answered truthfully that I was (a 15yo boy at the time) and didn't hear from them again, despite having the exact qualifications they wanted.

The recruiting manager will never have seen that information. Public sector recruitment processes often have much less to do with whether you meet the listed criteria as how you write your application.

CantHoldMeDown · 23/06/2025 07:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/06/2025 12:38

It's social value and opportunities monitoring.

edit: where I work (large public organisation) the recruiting manager doesn’t see the answers to these Qs at any point, this info only goes to HR.

EmpressaurusKitty · 23/06/2025 13:55

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Exactly. The implication is that either they haven’t kept up or they don’t care that plenty of people don’t subscribe to gender identity. Also that they don’t care about sex discrimination.

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