I went for a job interview today. I mentioned that I had recently gotten married. She then straight away said "So when are you having kids?"
I was a bit shocked, and said in the next year or so. Now I feel bad to think we were going to try soon. Is she allowed to ask that?

I dont think they are. And if You are ever asked that question again I think you should decline to answer that as it is none of their business!

They are definitely not allowed to ask. If you don't get the job you used to be able to take it to the equal opportunity tribunal, hopoefully you still can. You were not given a fair interview as the response is likely to cloud their judgement.

hmm yes I should have. But the way she asked made me feel like she was in the right.

It is illegal to ask questions like that. But isn;t it fair to tell someone.

No they are not allowed to ask. I honestly think that is the reason I missed out on a couple of jobs a few years ago, I was just the right age to start having children. It always came down to me and one other person and unfortunaely I missed out - I am fairly sure the other candidates were male.

yes cathy that is true. Im just contemplating whether to stay with my current job. We want t0o TTC in 1-2 years. And the new job said they need a commitment for atleast 1 year which I can give.

Nope, its against EEO principles, apart from being incredibly rude.

They are not allowed to ask questions like that. but, given that every man and his dog asks you that after you get married it may have been more a conversational thing than trying to weed out breeders

Nope, none of her business. Illegal and discrimatory

Equal Employment Opportunity Legislation is State Legislation, but it's pretty similar across the country.


Pregnancy discrimination means that it is against the law to treat a woman unfairly
because she is pregnant or might be able to become pregnant. Examples involving
pregnancy and work issues might include - being asked questions at a job interview
about whether you are thinking about becoming pregnant, constant references at work to
your pregnancy, assumptions about what you can or can't do at work or problems in
getting maternity leave.


I truly believe we are not educating our girls properly if they come out of school not knowing their rights under the law.

Totally and utterly illegal.

Even if you don't take it further (like to Equal Opportunity or the like) it might be worthwhile ringing the company's HR Department to update them on a law that's been in force for at least 10 years.

Grrrr

If it's any consolation, do you want to work for a company that would ask a question like that? It may be a handy indication of what they are like as employers.

You cant be asked about your personal life in an interview. You cant be discriminated against based on race, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation, family circumstances plus a heap of other things I'm sure.



To be honest I dont see why I mean if EB has taught me anything it is that just coz you plan to have kids in 1 to 2 years dosnt mean that you will go ahead and do it or that it will happen in that time frame. So many things could happen in that time frame. It would be a different story if you were actually pg at the time of the interview.

I always had the answer "I plan to have kids but I dont know when at this stage". Honest answer as you never do know when you will fall pg.

I got asked a similar question s a few years ago.
They are not allowed to ask that but I'm guessing that some do if they think they can get away with it.
I ended up getting the job and I'm am still there 6yrs later. Just returned after a 1yr mat.leave.

If they dont want you for any reason, they usually make up the old "someone was just that bit more suitable or qualified" and it would be hard to prove otherwise

I wonder how the EEO laws stand up against Workchoices? For eg: on local businessman wrote into our local paper that if the government gets re-elected and the current reforms are upheld he will "NEVER EMPLOY A WOMAN OF CHILD BEARING AGE AGAIN"...

WDYT?