Interview questions over childcare?

mrsw1983

Cross posted with the CAB forum.

Good evening, I'm looking to see whether my complaint with *** over a job interview for an 8 hour evening/saturday job is worth pursuing. Below is my complaint to ***, help would be appreciated. I have since spoken with the area manager who said she will take it up with the manager, and apologised profusely for my experience.

I attended an interview for the position of Healthcare Advisor- ** last Wednesday.
Following an interview in store with the manager I was told that I would receive a phone call the following day to confirm his decision as he wanted me to start on Saturday. I received a call from the manager at around 2pm on Thursday requesting further information from me that 'HR' had requested that he find out from me.
The manager then went on and the only way I can describe it was to interrogate me over my childcare arrangements. He wanted to know what would happen if one of my children were sick and what arrangements I had in place and even went as far as to ask whether my parents (who I said would watch my children should my husband be unavailable) were happy with the arrangements. He wanted to know my husbands working hours as well!
This information surely was none of his business and why would I apply for a job that I didn't have childcare arrangements in place for? I see no place for the questions to be raised in the first place let alone be repeatedly questioned over my personal arrangements.
I was also asked about my past 'sickness record', which I understand, but rather felt that it was in context with asking me what I would do if either of my children were sick.
I found his line of questioning to be highly discriminatory and unprofessional and completely put me off wanting to work for him, should I have been offered the position anyway.
I am very disappointed as I feel I would have been the perfect candidate for the position but the way your manager handled the application was unacceptable in my opinion.
I look forward to hearing your comments.

gibson123

What do you hope to achieve?

You could potentially have a case of sex discrimination,and damages, however it may be difficult to prove and may be a lengthy process. (I've been there).

If you are going down this route, do not send this letter! Wait until you have proper legal advice on how to take this forward, or whether you should.

If you just want to complain, do not expect an answer. there is no way the company will say anything that even hints of liability or responsibility, that is too risky for them.

You also need to take the company name from your original post and do it quickly.

Uncertain

I agree entirely.

There is nothing to be gained from sending that letter at the moment.

Make careful notes of exactly what was said in the phone call and seek professional advice.

Does your house insurance provide legal expenses cover?

FATBALLZ

gibson123 wrote: »

You could potentially have a case of sex discrimination,

Really? Childcare issues are just as applicable to men as they are to women, how is it discrimination based on sex?

Fleabag

The key question has to be, would they have asked the same questions of a man? I suspect not.
How did they know you had children?

Uncertain

FATBALLZ wrote: »

Really? Childcare issues are just as applicable to men as they are to women, how is it discrimination based on sex?

That is a lovely theory but in the real world.........

The employer will have an uphill job to demonstrate that they would have asked the same questions of a man (or come to that a woman in her sixties)! If they can show that they would have done then they probably didn't discriminate (in law).

I'm sure the firm's HR department will be horrified to learn what has happened. Sadly though I doubt the OP has any real evidence. A smart move might be to write to the manager confirming details of the phone conversation but, as I said earlier, she should seek advice is she wants to seek compensation.

mrsw1983

Thank you for the replies.
I'm afraid I was hasty and emailed the letter a few days ago, hence the phonecall I received from the area manager.
I suppose I will have to mark it down as experience and move on.

Fleabag

In the mid 80s I was told at the end of an interview for an apprentice jeweller post that I hadn't got a job because he didn't "think a bird could do it".

Unfortunately, being only 17 and having no proof, I didn't pursue it as a case of discrimination.

However, it gave me an amusing anecdote to cite in recruitment/equal ops training sessions

Sambucus_Nigra

mrsw1983 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies.
I'm afraid I was hasty and emailed the letter a few days ago, hence the phonecall I received from the area manager.
I suppose I will have to mark it down as experience and move on.

Sod that - I'd be taking it further. Having been subjected to much worse in my younger days and knowing what I know now...unless they can prove that they ask this of all candidates [male and female] and have documented responses from both genders on file - I'd be seeing a solicitor.

But that's just me, after spending half my career in a male dominated industry when there was no sex discrimination law that I could utilise to readdress the situations I found myself in.

'Hi. Thanks for your phone call and I appreciate that you will speak to the manager about this. However, as I am sure you are aware, this looks like sexual discrimination and I am more than happy to take this further. Unless you can show me that you ask this of all candidates, and document the responses of male and female applicants, I shall be seeking advice.

I shall be doing this not just because I am annoyed that I was subjected to a personal enquiry of this nature, but to protect future females from being subjected to this sort of treatment.

I shall await your response whilst I type up my record of the conversation.

Kind Regards

MrsW'

gibson123

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Sod that - I'd be taking it further. Having been subjected to much worse in my younger days and knowing what I know now...unless they can prove that they ask this of all candidates [male and female] and have documented responses from both genders on file - I'd be seeing a solicitor.

But that's just me, after spending half my career in a male dominated industry when there was no sex discrimination law that I could utilise to readdress the situations I found myself in.

'Hi. Thanks for your phone call and I appreciate that you will speak to the manager about this. However, as I am sure you are aware, this looks like sexual discrimination and I am more than happy to take this further. Unless you can show me that you ask this of all candidates, and document the responses of male and female applicants, I shall be seeking advice.

I shall be doing this not just because I am annoyed that I was subjected to a personal enquiry of this nature, but to protect future females from being subjected to this sort of treatment.

I shall await your response whilst I type up my record of the conversation.

Kind Regards

MrsW'

I sort of agree with this, however having been there (sacked for being pregnant), it is a stressful, hurtful and painful process. The organisations that claim to help do very little and you are pretty much on your own with your solicitor. I settled out of court, my solicitors bills were mounting up and there were times I worried I would lose, even though I had a pretty watertight case.

One part of me cheers on anyone who takes it further as it helps everyone, but to go all the way you have to have a lot of courage and determination. Going up against the big boys, well I wouldn't.

mrsw1983

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Sod that - I'd be taking it further. Having been subjected to much worse in my younger days and knowing what I know now...unless they can prove that they ask this of all candidates [male and female] and have documented responses from both genders on file - I'd be seeing a solicitor.

But that's just me, after spending half my career in a male dominated industry when there was no sex discrimination law that I could utilise to readdress the situations I found myself in.

'Hi. Thanks for your phone call and I appreciate that you will speak to the manager about this. However, as I am sure you are aware, this looks like sexual discrimination and I am more than happy to take this further. Unless you can show me that you ask this of all candidates, and document the responses of male and female applicants, I shall be seeking advice.

I shall be doing this not just because I am annoyed that I was subjected to a personal enquiry of this nature, but to protect future females from being subjected to this sort of treatment.

I shall await your response whilst I type up my record of the conversation.

Kind Regards

MrsW'

Thank you for this. I consulted my home insurance legal team who have sent me paperwork to start a claim but I don't think he sounded very hopeful although he was spouting a lot of legal jargon at me.