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.

[Islay]

//In addition to maternity leave pregnant women expect to be able to take time out for appointments feeling unwell without it counting towards any sick time. //
As can people in employment with disabilities! As long as the appointment or sick is to do with their disability the employer is supposed to make an arrangement.
Should we now not employ disabled people?

[ladybirder]

I worked for a small company as one of seven employees. We would never ever employ a woman of childbearing age because it could have brought us to our knees possibly never to rise again. All seven of us could have lost our jobs. Success or failure was that close.

[naomi24]

Pastafreak, //bearing in mind that the next, best qualified on your list may be a male who is less qualified than my daughter.//

That list is in your head alone. I've said nothing of the sort.

Islay at 11:07, if your hypothetical situation occurred, with the law as it is, I’d be bu&&ered – and most likely so would my business - which leads me back to my question that you’ve ignored. Any chance of having a little practical think about that?

[jim360]

Nevertheless, Naomi's reply amounts to the definition of discrimination under Section 39 (1)(c) and (3)(c) of the Equality Act 2010 (see also section (4)), since it explicitly sets unequal standards for men and women applying to the same job -- namely, that a woman must be the absolute best applicant in order to qualify for a job, whereas a man must merely match the best woman. Such an equal playing field is discriminatory and would be grounds for criminal action.

So, in that sense, the logic that "one attempts to opt for choices that are likely to create the least problems" should certainly not lead to always picking the man out of equal men and women, since such a business would be liable at the very least for hefty fines -- which, I suggest, might be a greater problem than employing a woman who may, possibly, end up pregnant at some point.

[Islay]

Its happening throughout the civil service as we speak Naomi.
Sorry what question did you ask me? I have only seen digs about my used of punctuation?

[naomi24]

Jim, yes, I know ... it breaks the law.... a law weighed far too heavily on the side of the employee ..... in my opinion.

[naomi24]

Islay, that wasn’t a dig about your punctuation – simply an observation that it, once again, indicates your quick to surface anger.

Here’s my question again:

//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?//

[hc4361]

So, should women go to university or invest time and money in other forms of training if the only work she should get until she is 50 is menial jobs that require minimum training and basic education?

[Islay]

i was making a statement hence my use of !
I would employ her if she was the best candidate for the job, if she wasn't I wouldn't.
What is the difference in discriminating against a woman getting pregnant to that of colour or religion or sexual preference?

[Baldric]

As a now retired employer, may I suggest that colour, religion or sexual preference would most likely not result in me having to pay them for not being there.

[naomi24]

Islay, employing her as the best candidate for the job wasn’t the issue. What you would do, as an employer, if a vital member of staff took maternity leave? You can’t replace her because you have to keep the job open in case she wants to return, but without her your business can’t function efficiently. What would you do?

[Islay]

What would I do - get on with it and make do.
As much as you dislike it it is the law that if she is the best candidate for the job that you can not refuse her on the grounds of what may or may not happen!

[naomi24]

Islay, You'd get on and make do? Not a great understanding of business then.

I know what the law is, but ironic that laws that discriminate against one in favour of another have a habit of biting the initial complainers squarely on the bottom …. because here we have employers no longer willing – and often, because of their business commitments, unable - to employ certain people. It’s a sure case of be careful what you wish for….

[Baldric]

Agree 100% with Naomi, well said!

[hc4361]

Naomi, do you think women should go to university or undertake other training to become a professional, or should they stick to manual work that needs little training?

[naomi24]

Thank you, Baldric.

[Islay]

//Not a great understanding of business then. //
If you say so Naomi but then you are the font of all knowledge.

[naomi24]

hc4361, of course women should go to university if that's what they want to do. What an odd question to ask me.

[naomi24]

Thank you, Islay.

[anneasquith]

There is no needfor any disagreement , its so simple, discourage any female of child bearing age from seeking employment , they can stay at home, claim benefits and re enter the workforce around the time of menopause.