Innapropriate Interview Question??

[Freedom]

The fear is that women will leave the job if and when they do have babies, and they will have to train someone else.

Actually it is more than that. It is that the woman will be collecting maternity leave benefits, which costs the company money on the health insurance plan(s) it offers. Meanwhile, they can only hire a temp for the length of the offered maternity leave, as they have to hold the job open for her on her return. And with the possible Federal Family Leave of 12 weeks added on, it could be 6 months of dealing with a temp. Only to have found the temp is a great person they have trained and have to let go; OR the temp is not working out and the woman decides to stay home for a few years so now they are stuck

I think only a small company would be this blatant since it is illegal.

[cyber-sibes]

I recall being asked that years ago during a job interview. I felt insulted - do they ask men if they plan to start families too? They might want paternity leave. I would imagine it's illegal to ask a question like that these days.

[lizbud]

It's way out of line to ask that. It's illegal.

[Killearn Kitties]

This reminds me of a situation we had in one of the places I worked many years ago - around 1981, I think. It was not illegal at that time to ask about intentions to have a family, and when the company was taking on an administrative assistant, they hired the one girl who interviewed, who was not married. They apparently failed to notice that the unmarried girl had been living with her boyfriend for some time, and soon after getting the job she became pregnant. The rest of us giggled about it for some time.

[jackie]

I wouldn't care if someone asked me that in an interview.

Yes I realize that woman shouldn't be penalized for wanting to start families or have babies, but I would just shrug it off.

If your friend wanted the job before they asked her those questions, I don't see why she shouldn't want it now.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Can't help but wonder if she had said yes, if she would even have been offered the job. I was never asked that question on any interview I went to.

[lizbud]

Can't help but wonder if she had said yes, if she would even have been offered the job.

Probably not. I landed some of the best jobs I've ever had while I was
still single so this particular question never came up but, it's still insulting.

[sirrahved]

They are lucky it wasn't me. I would have started crying, then screaming. They never would dare ask a woman that question again!