at a job interview can a future employer ask a lady..if she intends to get pregnant?

Question

i dont think this is right...do you....surely they would ask a man the same question..is this discrimanation

Answer 1

Hi!

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

If you go for an interview and this is asked and you don't get the job you can take them to an Industrial Tribunal and you WILL WIN!!

Go to www.acas.org.uk they'll give you the lowdown too.

Best of luck!!

Answer 2

On an interview I went on before, they asked me if their hours would interfere in my family life. I told them no. She said I didn't know if you had to worry about daycare or whatnot, and I said not right now I don't. And when I have kids, I will still be able to work.
I didn't get the job, but I don't know why, and now I don't care because the job I do have I love. If they are just in general learning about you, then yes they can ask that. But if they said are you going to try to have a baby?, then you didn't get the job you would have to prove that is why you didn't get the job.

Answer 3

Yes, absolutely - you can't ask a woman of childbearing age if she intends to have a family - and it is discrimination if you can prove that was the reason why you didn't get the job. Realistically, employers who ask such questions won't be worth working for, so consider it a lucky escape!

Answer 4

Legally no, but it happens all the time and it is nearly impossible to prove you didn't get a job because of your answer to this question.

You just have to ask yourself, do I want to work for a company that knowingly breaks the law during the interview. Cause trust me, if they show no concern for the hiring law, they aren't going to care about the rest of them after your hired.

If you want the job just tell them "not anytime soon", it's none of the interviewers business so your under no obligation to tell the truth.

Answer 5

no big company should ask this question.

however, if the company is, say 10-20 employees, you can see why they would want to know. A small firm can't carry a couple of women on maternity and keep their jobs open while employing temporary staff. OK it might be legally discrimination but look at the owner's point of view.

Answer 6

It's against the law to ask that question. It is discrimination and you can make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else by filing a complaint with the appropriate agency. Unfortunately, as you all ready know, it won't help you get the job.

Answer 7

YES.
An employer has the right to know if you intend on leaving and then claiming maternity pay.
They can't ask the same question to men because men can't get pregnant.

Answer 8

No they cant, however as a employer who hires I wish to hell i could, pregnancyis a complete pain in ****, as far as asking the man, why, he only gets a few weeks paternity, not a bloody whole year,and everything else that goes with it....it's either a career girls, or a brat, not both, at your employers expense.

Answer 9

They can ask anything and it is one of those questions that you want to answer politically correct since it can only hurt you.

Just tell them that you have no plans of getting pregnant and that you are focusing on your career at this point in your life (there is no way that they can fire you over getting pregnant).

If you are really bold you can ask them if the answer to their question will influence their hiring decision.

PS make detailed notes of the conversation (time, date, person you spoke to) for future reference just to cover yourself

Answer 10

This is a grey area. They should not ask you that question but I have been asked that on several occassions. The burden of proof would be on you in a court of law if you wanted to push for discrimination.