Should women be honest about plans to start a family during job interviews?

https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/thebigdebate/518167/should-women-be-honest-about-their-plans-to-start-a-family-during-job-interviews.html

And if a woman didn't say she wanted to start a family would the employer have the right to sack her if she does get pregnant?

Personally I think it's ridiculous. Last time I checked it takes two people to have and look after a baby. Why do women have to be made to feel guilty about something that is natural to being human?

I think if a woman is already pregnant at the interview it should be mentioned but otherwise plans to have a family is no business of an employer.

What are your views?

I was told a long time ago never to mention it on interview. Having said that in order to get a job in the city at the age of 19 i had to volunteer the information that i was not planning on starting a family.

I like that employers cannot ask at interview. They wouldnt ask a man.

Exactly, men start families too. I've been on loads of interviews recently and it's never been mentioned, I doubt I'd even answer if it was legal to ask.

I have had an interview recently, where I was asked if I intended to start a family. I simply replied that I was in a Civil Partnership .

The interviewer looked embarrassed and muttered "Oh yes, that's right. Sorry".

Actually, we do intend to start a family in the future. We have a donor, we have the money. We haven't yet decided when the time will be right, but when it is, then we will.

But I didn't tell a lie in the interview. I simply let the interviewer make his own assumption.


.

I think it's illegal to ask that.

It's illegal to ask here in the states, or at least in the states where I've lived. That said, if the job you're interviewing for is something that you wouldn't be able to do while pregnant, and you're considering getting pregnant in the near future, I would expect you to mention it. The women who have worked for me have known that they would have to go on leave after their first trimester if they got pregnant, because the job is not safe for a pregnant woman to do. And we only offer 6 weeks of paid maternity leave. We let women know that upfront, so I think that it's only fair to let the employer know if you're planning on getting pregnant.

That said, we do have positions in my company where a woman can work safely to term and take the six weeks for delivery and baby time.. so if a woman is forthcoming about it and is qualified, we try to place her in a job that fits her plans, and is good for the company.

I see a point to why someone would ask. But I'm not sure I would care enough. The reason why men are not asked as much though is because they are expected not to take a brake and keeping working too support the family. Where the women is expected to take at least a short brake.

I did some training on equality and diversity recently and I'm sure it did say it was illegal.

Men get paternity leave.

That they do. But they not expected to take as long as brake as women do. For Australia male paternity leave is a pretty new thing.

Yeah I thought so, I was shocked when I heard about 30,000 women a year are (illegally) sacked in the UK for getting pregnant.

It was on the Wright Stuff though and they didn't cite a source so I dunno how accurate it is, it'd be shocking if it was right.

Do they get as much time as women? Here most employers don't offer paternity leave, unless the company is exceptional. My company used to give 13 weeks of maternity leave, but made men take vacation time if they wanted to stay at home. About five years ago they changed the policy and began offering six weeks paternity leave, but then dropped maternity leave down to six weeks as well.

So, while it's nice that men and women get the same amount of time, it's a little sad that women have gone from three months down to six weeks in the bargain.

Funny how the question is aimed at women cos the last time I checked women couldn't get them selves up the stick!

I wonder how men would feel if they were asked "do you plan on impregnating anyone whilst you work here?"

No they don't get as much time as women.

My response would be, Yes. I plan on impregnating your closest female relative since I hear its the best way to climb the ladder.