Should Women Disclose If They Are Pregnant During Job Interviews?

[Deskdiary]

Personally I think yes.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/19/uk-bosses-believe-women-should-say-at-interview-if-they-are-pregnant-report

How frustrating would it be to have a job offer accepted and then upon starting the job and the training involved to be told a years worth of maternity leave will soon be taken.

[anthro-nerd]

DeskDiary, ah yes, I've got a bit defensive it seems, and deviated away from the actual question! (thank you!)

[naomi24]

anthro-nerd, work at a job where she's easily replaced and where she doesn't incur unnecessary expense for her employer or create long term problems. In a role such as that I would employ her.

[mikey4444]

Naomi..what disturbs me is that the implication of some posts seems to mean that it OK to deny women the chance of work and a career, just because they might become pregnant at some time in the future.

You said that you would have understood if you had been denied a job, because you were of child-bearing age.

I wonder how far your "understanding" would have lasted, if you had been denied the 10th job that you had applied for that week, for that very reason ?

[Islay]

naomi I am truly shocked by your attitude in your response at 0956, thank christ you are not in government - you make moggins look like a saint!

[Islay]

Actually not shocked - disturbed is a better word

[naomi24]

Mikey, from the point of view of an employer in order to run a business efficiently and effectively I'd opt for damage limitation every time.

[anthro-nerd]

Naomi, so you'd rather see a pregnant woman doing factory work and hard labour? That fits your 'replaceable' criteria... that seems sensible!

[naomi24]

Islay, have a sit down and a cup of tea. Hope you feel better soon.

[naomi24]

anthro-nerd, //Naomi, so you'd rather see a pregnant woman doing factory work and hard labour?//

You said that - not me.

[anthro-nerd]

Naomi, okay, so in what specific jobs would you employ a pregnant woman?

An educated woman, with a degree perhaps and 10 years of work experience, for example...

[jackthehat]

I don 't think it is unreasonable for a pregnant woman to inform her prospective employers at interview stage.
This would mean that the employer will have all pertinent details available to him/her/them and hopefully make an even-handed decision based on that.

I think it is manifestly unfair of any prospective employer to assume that any woman of child-bearing age will disappear off at some stage to have a child and thus be reluctant to employ them because of that.

[naomi24]

anthro-nerd, I wouldn't employ a pregnant woman.

[Islay]

Naomi I think its you who should sit down and have a cup of tea! Perhaps you may see things differently - though I doubt it!
Also for info - a woman should make their employer aware they are pregnant but that should not stop said employer employing them.

[anthro-nerd]

I'm actually shocked that there are people out there with this outdated point of view.

It's discrimination.

[naomi24]

anthro-nerd, put yourself in an employer's shoes .... if you can. You're a small business, you have only a few staff, you've spent time and money training someone, and suddenly she tells you she is taking maternity leave and you know you have to keep her job open for her until she comes back - if she does - so you can't employ someone else on a permanent basis to replace her. What are you going to do?

[naomi24]

Islay, ^that question to you too.

[bhg481]

If you were an employer, why would you employ someone who you know is going to cost you money for several months, not only with no-return but also messing up your business by making you have to employ an expensive temp. Not only that, some of them pretend they are going to come back after the maternity period and then don't, so they've stopped you employing a stable person in the first place, as well as costing you money. All that when you could have employed someone who wasn't going to be hassle. It may be an outdated point of view but it's sound business-sense.

[naomi24]

bhg481, precisely.

[mikey4444]

anthro-nerd...you have hit the nail on the head....discrimination is exactly what it is.

[naomi24]

Mikey, indeed - and justified.