Temporary Worker - Not suitable for a job interview because you have a child.

[Destiny2020]

Any freelancers/contractors/temporary workers been denied job interviews or jobs based on having children. For jobs that you have do you find the employers accommodating to your children needs as opposed to permanent staff. My reason for asking, is whether it’s just me or whether it still happens now, but I got declined a job interview based on the fact I had a child, this was some years ago. I’d like to think things have changed, but after speaking to other mothers it seems, there is a long way to go for employers to be fully flexible to freelancers/contractors/temporary staff. Would be great to hear your thoughts and experiences.

your post isn’t clear - do you mean they declined to interview you on the grounds that you have children? In that case it’s a clear case of discrimination.

Or do you mean that an employer needed a contractor to do specific hours or it was a case of full time vs part time; and you indicated you wouldn’t do those hours because of childcare issues?

I got prepped for a full time job interview Via phone by a recruitment agent, who thought I was ideal for a particular role until he heard my toddler, crying In the back ground, he suddenly changed he’s mind and said I was no longer suitable for the job. Further job applications with the agent made it clear they would not put me forward for interviews based on the fact I had a child. I agree this is discrimination, however, this happened some years ago and wondered whether freelances/contractors/temporary staff today are facing similar scenarios, considering the family friendly workplaces organisations should be adhering to. I see this accommodated for permanent staff, but for freelancers/contractors/temporary staff it seems to be less accommodating. Want to know if others have faced similar issues. Hope this is clear.

Why do you want to know?

But that isn't because you have a child, but because your child was impacting on your interview (and if you were prepared to risk them disturbing your interview, then a not unfair assumption that you would on later work practice).
That is very different.

Agree with @BackforGood. That would have signalled a big lack of professionalism, and that you couldn't be flexible like a contractor/ freelancer would expect to be, given you couldn't arrange for simple childcare when dealing with the agency.

Agreed that not arranging childcare for an interview is a huge red flag when hiring contractors especially if they work remotely

Via phone by a recruitment agent, who thought I was ideal for a particular role until he heard my toddler, crying In the back ground, he suddenly changed he’s mind and said I was no longer suitable for the job.

The reality is that employers have to tread carefully with staff they employ, protections start from Day 1 of employment, so all the checks and balances are in place nowadays in a way that didn't unfortunately happen before legislation under Equality Act (2010) was passed.

Contractors/Contingent Workers/Zero Hours staff have no such protections where they don't have a contract of employment.

Agency staff which may include CWs are employed by their agency so you could have taken your agency to task, but the reality is if a person is heavily reliant on agency work as their source of employment they probably wouldn't expend all their energy and income dragging them through a Tribunal.

As pp's have said, its best not to give them an excuse to find fault. Yes, of course they should never discriminate, but life is not perfect. A phone interview should be in a quiet room behind closed doors. If your childcare arrangements failed that day, that's unfortunately not their issue, and it opened you to criticism.

They were shortsighted to refuse you future work, their loss. If they needed the post to be filled, maybe they would have 'given you a bye'. Too many ifs and buts and maybes to be absolutely about it.

absolute

I agree with others - you need to treat dealing with the recruitment agent like dealing with the employer; and arrange childcare for important meetings/discussions. Unfortunately too many people think “working from home” means they don’t need childcare, and it sounds like the recruitment agent didn’t want to take the chance.

Agreeing with others I’m afraid.

He didn’t have an issue with you having a child, he had an issue with your lack of professionalism and disorganisation.