I was asked during a job interview whether I plan to have kids
Q: I recently had a job interview in Hamilton, and the owner asked me if I’m planning to have children soon. I’m in my mid-20s, and I found this question concerning. Are employers allowed to ask about plans for having children?
A: No, employers are not allowed to make hiring decisions based on whether someone is planning to have children.
Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, discrimination based on pregnancy is prohibited, which includes making decisions or treating someone unfavourably because they may become pregnant in the future.
Even if asked out of genuine curiosity, employers should avoid asking questions about family planning, as it could be perceived as influencing the hiring process.
While not all employers will discriminate, questions like these can create the impression that such factors are being considered in hiring decisions.
Employers should avoid questions that elicit information that is not relevant to the decision to hire.
Asking how long someone plans to work until retirement, whether they have a disability (broadly speaking), family planning decisions or religion, for instance, are generally inappropriate questions to ask in a hiring interview.
This article was originally published by The Hamilton Spectator.
