Inappropriate questions?

GrannyKate

I agree largely with SarEl on this. You do not say what area of the public sector this was but a question about handling unpleasant incidents involving children is very valid and has nothing to do with gender. The fact is that the public sector (and the private sector to some extent) has to be certain that employees will react professionally and not emotionally when faced with some very difficult situations. In many years in the public sector I have seen, become involved in, read about and had to deal with some very distressing situations involving children. The fact that I am a parent (a mother) may have given me more empathy and understanding but I still had to behave totally professionally and it is not always that easy to act with the necessary level of detachment.

I would imagine all interviewees were asked the same questions as that is the usual practice in order to provide an auditable scoring matrix. Supplementary questions would, however, flow from the interviewee's initial answers.

Caroline73_2

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Either:

1. they've been spying on her.
2. she went in breast feeding
3. she took the kids with her
4. it came up in conversation.
5. it was mentioned in one of her interests on her CV

I know i'm probably being ridiculous and there's no way it could ever happen, but i'm going to stick with number 4 and that it came up. Yes yes i know option 2 is the most likely answer but i like living on the edge; although hopefully my silly answer may help you realise that your question was just as silly.

I only asked the OP because it is obvious that she told them, either directly or indirectly. Therefore I find it odd that she claiming discrimination.

I've never been asked about my children in an interview because I have never brought it to the interviewers attention. Even when I was chair of my sons PTA I never thought to include it on a CV.

Goldfinger69

Can you ask to see the interview questions, and the answers that were written down by the panel, for all candidates?

SarEl

Goldfinger69 wrote: »

Can you ask to see the interview questions, and the answers that were written down by the panel, for all candidates?

Of course you can't! You can ask (although they do not have to comply) to see your own - there is no right to see anyone elses, and several rights not to see anyone elses.

skater_kat

how did they know you have a husband? did you put 'Mrs' on your form?

scheming_gypsy

skater_kat wrote: »

how did they know you have a husband? did you put 'Mrs' on your form?

if she's married she was probably wearing a wedding ring which would give most people the impression that they're married.

Caroline73_2

She must have a husband if she has children and is job hunting. Everyone knows single mothers live on benefits, the Daily Mail says so.

SarEl

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

if she's married she was probably wearing a wedding ring which would give most people the impression that they're married.

(a) Or have been. Widows rarely take off their wedding rings!
(b) That still doesn't explain how they knew said possible husband worked shifts!

martinthebandit

Having worked in a ' male dominated' area of the public sector for many years and, for some of the time, been involved in recruiting I would just like to add that I would be very suprised if they fell foul of gender, or any other, discrimination at any point during the selection process.

There is generally sufficient training giving and enough checks and balances to make sure it doesn't happen and extra attention is usually paid to sex discrimination legislation purely because it is male dominated.

ManicMum

Thank you for replies. I did not say I was looking to take it further, make a claim etc so not sure where that has come from. I just wanted advice.

They already knew about my children and husband as this previously had to be declared. I did not bring up the subject of shift working. I just wanted to get others opinions as I have never been asked these sorts of questions before and feel that what my husband does is irrelevant. If I commit to a job, it's up to me how I manage my childcare.

Also, I think dealing with children is about being a human being. Someone without kids could have a worse reaction to you. You just don't know.