application form questions re religion and sexual orientation

Careful_with_that_Axe

I remember many years ago being asked on an application form for a job with a City Accountancy firm if I used contraception and what type I used. I declined to answer the question as it would only significantly apply to/be asked of female applicants.
In just the last few years, I came across an application form asking for details of children of applicants and if any children had any special needs or disabilities. I complained on the grounds that this information could be used for discriminatory purposes and the form was, evenually, changed.

Perhaps an informal telephone call to the organisation involved would clear up why this is being asked and if it is just for data gathering to fulfil a legal obligation?

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

woody01 wrote: »

Why are you moaning?
Are you are homosexual buddhist?
Or a lesbian muslim?

I'm not moaning (if you mean me!) and it doesn't matter if I am any of these things because it isn't relevant to the job. My point is that if you have the necessary skills, qualifaictions and experience and are willing and able to do the job then race, colour, religion and sexual orientation should not be relevant.

I understand that it is to monitor employers to ensure they are being fair and not discriminating against certain sections of the population. I still feel that it is personal information and none of their business.

Savvy_Sue

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

Perhaps an informal telephone call to the organisation involved would clear up why this is being asked and if it is just for data gathering to fulfil a legal obligation?

:eek: at your earlier encounters with such questions!

I agree that a phone call to check what information is given to the selection panel would help clear this up. It may not have occurred to them that some of this information should NOT be kept with the successful applicant's personnel file, and if it's on the main part of the form then presumably it is!

Careful_with_that_Axe

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

:eek: at your earlier encounters with such questions!

I agree that a phone call to check what information is given to the selection panel would help clear this up. It may not have occurred to them that some of this information should NOT be kept with the successful applicant's personnel file, and if it's on the main part of the form then presumably it is!

The contraception question, I have to admit, may have been as far back as the 70s. However, if you made the shortlist, you had to have a medical which involved an, errrrrrr, invasive procedure for a woman!!
I withdrew my application :rolleyes:

Emmzi

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

The contraception question, I have to admit, may have been as far back as the 70s. However, if you made the shortlist, you had to have a medical which involved an, errrrrrr, invasive procedure for a woman!!
I withdrew my application :rolleyes:

my organisation, in the 70s, made women resign when they got married.

they used to advertise 'jobs for girls and careers for men.'

and men couldn't get promoted without a 'suitable wife.'

:eek::eek::eek: