should it make a difference if i have kids?

lisamummytoarchieplusbump

i read on here the other day about someone getting asked whever they will be having kids in the future this is similar

i rang for a job today for a part time pharmacy assistant and got asked the usual name, age, last job, how long i worked there blah blah but then as i had mentioned being made redundant while on maternity leave he then asked how many kids i had and what are their ages?!?!?

i dont understand what having kids and their ages has got to do with it.

ok i know from an employers point of view, young kids getting ill may make me take lots of time off but he didnt bother asking where they would be while im working, ie with family or childminder so for all he knows they could be with a stay at home dad or a grandparent.

is this the new questions you get asked

so i very much doubt ill get an interview for that one

Oldernotwiser

lisamummytoarchieplusbump wrote: »

i read on here the other day about someone getting asked whever they will be having kids in the future this is similar

i rang for a job today for a part time pharmacy assistant and got asked the usual name, age, last job, how long i worked there blah blah but then as i had mentioned being made redundant while on maternity leave he then asked how many kids i had and what are their ages?!?!?

i dont understand what having kids and their ages has got to do with it.

ok i know from an employers point of view, young kids getting ill may make me take lots of time off but he didnt bother asking where they would be while im working, ie with family or childminder so for all he knows they could be with a stay at home dad or a grandparent.

is this the new questions you get asked

so i very much doubt ill get an interview for that one

You should make a formal complaint about this company; they aren't allowed to ask you questions like that.

lisamummytoarchieplusbump

i got it from the job centre today as i went to see my lone parent adviser so will be ringing him tomorrow and mention it.

i told my sister after i got off the phone and she was going go on erin brockovich lol

i just thought it was abit wrong to ask something as it wasnt like he was chatty and just asked it in passing all he asked was basic details and told me someone may be in contact

i know employers can be picky at the moment but are they really using kids against you now whever you can do the job or not

dave4545454

although it's prejudice and they shouldn't do it, companies still use applicants with kids as a big negative when it comes to choosing a future worker.

alison999

i didnt think that they were even allowed to ask you your age anymore

tizhimi

Put a complaint in, they can't do this. I don't have my age on my CV (just incase soone may thing she's too old/ too young etc...) It dosn't matter what anyone says, we ALL come with predujices attached whether we mean to or not.

lisamummytoarchieplusbump

i emailed my loan parent adviser saying this

I phoned the job you reconmended yesterday and along with the normal question ie name, address, what hours i can work i was also asked how many kids i have an what are their ages? I know this is not a normal question that gets asked and I understand why some companies ask these sorts of questions but i feel its wrong for someone to judge my work ability on my children, ill be very suprised if i get a call back for this position but just wanted to inform you of this as you are a lone parent adviser so feel it maybe a waste of time suggesting this job to your other clients as they obviously want someone without children


hes reply was this

Lisa,

Thanks for the CV and information.

I'm sorry you experienced this reaction.

I will certainly avoid suggesting this to other clients.

All the best!

Steve



should i have made a proper complaint, as i very much doubt there is anything they can do anyway its not like they can force him to give me the job now for discriminating against me

thanks for all the replies i just seem to be getting loads of rejections and this one took the biscuit

lisa

Savvy_Sue

Surely rather than not suggesting this job to clients, the JC should be contacting the employer and advising them not to ask such questions?

Goodness knows they are strict enough about what you can put in the details for any job advertised through the JC.

Next time around, just say you were made redundant, no need to mention you were on ML at the time.

lisamummytoarchieplusbump

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Surely rather than not suggesting this job to clients, the JC should be contacting the employer and advising them not to ask such questions?

Goodness knows they are strict enough about what you can put in the details for any job advertised through the JC.

Next time around, just say you were made redundant, no need to mention you were on ML at the time.

i wanted to put it in a nice way to say they are discriminating and let them do what they like with this info


i only mentioned it as ive been out of work for 2 years so thought that would be a better way to explain the 2 years of no work instead of them thinking ive just been bumming about not really bothering with work or courses

but for future jobs i am just going to say made redundant and leave it as that

well we learn by our mistakes

thanks sue