Mentioning children at interview

Southend1

capeverde wrote: »

Show me the law that states Im not allowed to ask a persons marital status at interview then.

Sex Discrimination Act 1975

ETA - sorry I think this comes under Equality Act 2010 now. It's late and I'm tired!

Errata

capeverde wrote: »

I am perfectly within my rights to ask those questions. I may not be allowed to make a judgement based on them which is a different matter. However You would never know.

Have you considered that any and all of the answers you're given can change shortly afterwards?

capeverde

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

If I were the interviewer and your friend clumsily contrived to get her children into the conversation, I might assume that I'm being forewarned of a potentially high rate of absence. That there's a reason why she wants this fact up there and prominent right from the start.

If she managed to do it in the normal flow of conversation or by taking her cue from a child's photo on my desk, I would probably interpret it as relaxing small talk, a nice attempt to break the ice and bridge the gap between us.

So it depends how she handles it.

Exactly this. Works the other way as well.

Southend1

capeverde wrote: »

The former.

Could you show me the law that states Im not allowed to ask if a candidate has children then?

Equality Act 2010

Georgiegirl256

capeverde wrote: »

The former.

Could you show me the law that states Im not allowed to ask if a candidate has children then?

http://www.mtu.edu/equity/pdfs/whatyoucanandcantasklongversion8-12-04.pdf At the bottom of page 2.

Not only that, you have the potential to make someone feel very uncomfortable by asking personal questions.

capeverde

Errata wrote: »

Have you considered that any and all of the answers you're given can change shortly afterwards?

Of course they can and whilst I may ask these questions they wouldnt be the deciding factor in my choice. One of the biggest things for me, as we offer ongoing training is my perception of their ability to fit in with my current employees. Attitude and flexibility I also rate highly. I have both single and married people work for me.

capeverde

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

http://www.mtu.edu/equity/pdfs/whatyoucanandcantasklongversion8-12-04.pdf At the bottom of page 2.

Not only that, you have the potential to make someone feel very uncomfortable by asking personal questions.

Thats an american document, not UK and also its not a law.

Southend1

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

http://www.mtu.edu/equity/pdfs/whatyoucanandcantasklongversion8-12-04.pdf At the bottom of page 2.

Not only that, you have the potential to make someone feel very uncomfortable by asking personal questions.

I think that document relates to US law. You're still correct though

Georgiegirl256

capeverde wrote: »

Thats an american document, not UK and also its not a law.

Perhaps, it's late and I cba to look for another one, but as people have pointed out above....Equality Act 2010, and as Southend points out, I'm still right!

Southend1

capeverde wrote: »

Of course they can and whilst I may ask these questions they wouldnt be the deciding factor in my choice. One of the biggest things for me, as we offer ongoing training is my perception of their ability to fit in with my current employees. Attitude and flexibility I also rate highly. I have both single and married people work for me.

Which of the following fit in with your current employees and which don't?

Black people
Women
LGBT people
Scottish people
Single men with children
People with elderly dependents
Tall people
Fat people
Young people
People with disabilities
People with ginger hair.