application form requesting childcare providers details? surely not right?

brians_daughter

Also posted in employment but thought you guys could help/advise

Hi all, urm, just a quick one really. I am off for an interview today and I need to complete an application form to take along with me.

The company want to know the ins and outs of everything. Thats fine, however, They are asking the following

1. Do you have any children?
2. Age of children
3. Do you have childcare in place? If so whom? ie family, friends or do you use a registered childcare provder
4. If you use a registered childcare provider please supply their contact details below.

The company are a massive organisation and are well thought of in their field of work so i assume they are working within the law. But surely this is a step too far on an application form? I use a mix of childcare ie grandparents and a paid childcare provider but why should i need to disclose this?

I remember in my last job being responsible for the interviews and my MD telling me i must not ask about kids and childcare but if they volunteered the info then great..i always assumed this was down to legislation rather than him being uninterested.

Or, am i just being a tad ackward by not wanting to give this info? I just feel ackward giving out my childcare providers details without asking her first - she is on annual leave this week so i cant speak with her to get permission

I am due to go for interview this afternoon so any info/input would be great. I am aware i could just say 'my childcare provider is on holiday and i dont wish to give her contact details out prior to requesting permission' but to be honest i really cant see why they want this info! I have asked and was told 'they are standard questions and all must be completed prior to interview taking place'

ginvzt

Why don't you ask how is it relevant to this job and your qualifications for this job?

floss2

Perhaps it is to see if you are eligible for childcare vouchers?

brians_daughter

ginvzt wrote: »

Why don't you ask how is it relevant to this job and your qualifications for this job?

I have spoken to the interviwer (just now) to say my provider is away (i am not leaving the form filling to the last minute, it got lost in post and new one came this morning) and she has stated that as the job 'can, on the rare occassion' be anti social hours they like to know that if i am asked to work until 8 my childcare provider is happy to look after my kids til then! Well, no my child care provider isnt willing to look after them til 8 but my mother, mother in law, and childs father - not to mention numerous aunts and uncles would be.

pixelation

It is illegal - against sex discrimination laws. End of..

daska

They are not allowed to discriminate on grounds of sex, pregnancy and maternity, which is why questions surrounding children or lack of them are not allowed. By putting it as a question on the application form all applicants are asked the same question but they get to find out whether the interviewee has children. And by demanding to know that there is childcare in place in order to consider you for the job the interviewer has in fact implied that the job might not be offered if you don't already have appropriate childcare in place.

Naughty!

nottslass_2

pixelation wrote: »

It is illegal - against sex discrimination laws. End of..

Surely its only sex discrimination if they only ask female applicants ? As I understand it, if the question is posed to both sexes then its not illegal.

Person_one

I'd just put N/A on the form. They can infer from that what they will.

Hermia

brians_daughter wrote: »

I have spoken to the interviwer (just now) to say my provider is away (i am not leaving the form filling to the last minute, it got lost in post and new one came this morning) and she has stated that as the job 'can, on the rare occassion' be anti social hours they like to know that if i am asked to work until 8 my childcare provider is happy to look after my kids til then!

Crumbs! What a long-winded way of dealing with this. The jobs in my department can involve late nights and Saturdays. We just state that in the job description, remind the candidate of that at the interview and it's in the contract. Anyone who then said they would only work 9-5 because of childcare issues would be breaking the contract.

andrealm

There is no reason for them to ask for contact details of your childcare provider. As Hermia says, all they need to do is state the working hours in the job description and contract. They can ask if you are willing and able to work evenings if required, there should be no need to query you about your childcare.

I thought they were not allowed to ask applicants if they have children or what their childcare arrangements were.

puddy

usually jobs will ask if you have the flexibility to work outside office hours, either you are or you're not and obviously you are, it makes no difference if thats down to having children, or a hobby or an eldery person to care for. its illegal to ask these questions and make assumptions based on them, i would not answer them