I actually think he has a point...

[Gonzo33]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1362589/Lord-Sugar-says-women-looking-job-tell-employers-plan-baby.html

I would be happy declaring whether or not I am going to have any more children and my child care arrangements. I am exceptionallly organised when it comes to these things though because I was a single parent who worked full time for many years.

What do you think?

It's none of their business and they have no right to ask you. You may wish to mention your personal circumstances but it's up to you. End of story.

SAS and Theo Profits can take a long walk off a short pier AFAIK. I'd poke both eyes out with my pen before I'd work for anyone like that.

I can say as well that when I worked in a smaller team, the fact that three of the women had children caused less impact than the man who didn't have children but had a dog. Somehow if the children were sick, the women just got on with it, but if the dog was sick...

When I have my own company, I wont allow pet owners

My god BlackSwan I never realised the Theo Pathetic was such a total cock. I will never watch DD again! I mean it obvious that Alan Sugar is, but who'd have thought it about TP

I know someone who requested flexible working to assist with childcare (and got a very rough ride from their employer). Eventually, they gave up work to look after the kids full time.

That person is my husband!

I still work the long hours, weekends etc and if the kids are unwell etc. its not me at home with them its DH.

Would his Lordship! and Theo P have asked him whether or not he planned to become a Dad?

Why not chuck all potential parents out of the workplace, just in case.

BTW - There was a programme about AS a while back where it was very clear that he and his wife have a very traditional set of gender specific roles.

Sure Lord Sugar thinks he should be able to ask. More than one winner of the Apprentice program has ended up on Mat Leave within 12 months of winning the job!

If I was asked, I'd give a similar answer that I've given in the past to well meaning family and friends, basically, the plans I have for my family is nobodys business but my husband and mine and, should there be any additions to our family, you will be notified when we deem it appropriate.

I think the new paternity leave thing will be great for helping sex discrimination because men will be taking time off too.

except that most still won't. (isn't it only a small percentage even taking the two weeks leave?)

Alan Sugar may say what he thinks out loud, but that is rubbish and you can't make people say that in an interview. Do they ask the same thing of men? Do they ask if older staff who are due to become grandparents (ie many members of the board of directors) whether they may take more time off to entertain grandchildren? That's a breach of discrimination laws and we are now told if interviewing staff we cannot say that.

How about asking potential law breakers to declare whether they might intend to lie - or commit a crime - or bankrupt the company - anytime soon. (More reason for asking that as maternity leave or having children isn't against the law but committing a crime is!)

If Alan Sugar seriously believes what he suggests is a good thing, then he will bring UK companies back down to the level of underdeveloped or right wing societies where women can be fired for getting pregnant or men can have their pay withheld for falling ill and other unfair trade practices. Frankly, I think he is just attempting - and not very cleverly - to generate publicity.

As for The Apprentice winners going on maternity leave, you can hardly blame them given the sort of treatment they have endured on the show!

@Gonzo33 - excuse me if I'm not the first to say this, but I am fairly certain that the moment you informed Alan Sugar of your plans ( if you were being interviewed by him), he would instantly put a black mark next to your name and decide to give the job to someone less well qualified and interviewed less well than you. No matter how well organised and efficient your arrangements sound - and no doubt are. It's because you actually mentioned you do have children.

I can only speak from experience. I applied for a transfer to another office which would have meant promotion, I was pregnant at the time. The 2 male interviewers spent approx 50% of the interview asking how my husband would feel looking after my young child and soon to be born baby during the 2 days when my children were not at nursery. They had already established the nursery part through throughly quizzing me.
I was seething as I knew that there was no way a man would have been asked any of the same questions.
i didn't get the job and was told "off the record" by another(female) manager that it was purely because I was pregnant. After my baby was born I received a call from a female manager aking if I would reconsider the position as the employee whom the 2 male managers had chosen was basically useless.

I do not believe employers have the right to quizz anyone about issues of a sexist nature.

I told my employer that I was going for IVF at my first attempt (it didnt work). I had already worked there for four years, but at my next appraisal, it was bought up as a reason why I couldnt be promoted. I had to change jobs to further my career and it took me a further six years to actually have a baby.

I note that most people who would mention it in an interview (not when they were already working there) would only do so because they are saying "I am not going to have more/any children". This means that they agree that planning a baby is a negative and if they said they did want to have a baby it would act against them. Thats awful. Unfortunately, while its great to hear about the good companies, most are just not that enlightened.

Totally agree, Lamzig. It's encouraging employers to continue to hold these old-fashioned views, and does no favours to women.

"I note that most people who would mention it in an interview (not when they were already working there) would only do so because they are saying "I am not going to have more/any children".

HRWT

1. The future of the world, and indeed any employers business, relies on procreation. Surely it's as normal as the sun rising and should be accommodated as a fact of life.

1. Any such questions must be asked to both men & women. Apart from maternity leave, having a family impacts just as much on DP's job as it does mine.

1. I'd be more inclined to reveal such information, if in advance I was provided, without asking, with details of the company's maternity/paternity/parental package/policy.

1. I didn't 'plan' any of my pregnancies.

1. Sugar is full of shit.

I agree with muminthemiddle. BTW, your experience is not unique - it has happened to a good friend of mine.

if women want to talk about their reproductive plans in the interview, why not put another slant on it
"I'm going off tohave another customer for you"