⚠️𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀❌
Managers, please stop it.
In the UK, employment law strictly regulates what employers can and cannot ask in interviews to prevent discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
Here are five questions managers should never ask in an interview and why they are legally and ethically problematic:
1. "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂?" 𝗼𝗿 "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻?"
↳Why? Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, and asking about it can lead to age discrimination claims.
↳Instead, focus on qualifications and experience.
2. "𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱?" 𝗼𝗿 "𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻?"
↳Why? Questions about marital or parental status can lead to discrimination based on sex or family status. For example, assumptions about childcare responsibilities could unfairly impact women.
↳Instead, ask about availability in a neutral way, such as “Are you available to work the required hours?”
3. "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄?" 𝗼𝗿 "𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀?"
↳Why? Religion is protected under the Equality Act 2010.
↳Employers must accommodate religious practices where reasonable, but asking directly can suggest bias. Instead, discuss flexible working policies if relevant.
4. "𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺?" 𝗼𝗿 "𝗜𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲?"
↳Why? Race, nationality, and ethnic background are protected characteristics. Asking this could be seen as racial discrimination.
↳A legal alternative is: “Are you legally eligible to work in the UK?”
5. "𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?"
↳Why? The Equality Act 2010 protects against discrimination based on disability.
↳Instead, ask: “Do you require any reasonable adjustments to perform this role?” Employers are legally required to make reasonable accommodations.
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Founder of HR Habitat, award winner of "Best HR & Employment Law Consultancy, 2024" title. As featured in BBC Oline, BBC Asian Network Radio, Telegraph & more.Β
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