Dear All,
I just wanted to share my experience with a Malaysian BPO in Bangalore. I had a telephonic interview with the concerned person for a position in the HR Department. The second question the lady asked me was, "Are you planning to have kids soon because I don't need the incumbent to take maternity leave now." Remember, this is the second question after the interview started.
Again, she asked me if I am planning to have kids in the coming year. I pointed out it is not in my hands to say when. When she pressed, I politely pointed out that it is an unethical question. She scornfully said it is ethical and she knows it well because she is in the HR Field.
Please comment on this and let us have a meaningful discussion on this topic.
Thanks and Regards,
Rose
From India, Bangalore
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1I just wanted to share my experience with a Malaysian BPO in Bangalore. I had a telephonic interview with the concerned person for a position in the HR Department. The second question the lady asked me was, "Are you planning to have kids soon because I don't need the incumbent to take maternity leave now." Remember, this is the second question after the interview started.
Again, she asked me if I am planning to have kids in the coming year. I pointed out it is not in my hands to say when. When she pressed, I politely pointed out that it is an unethical question. She scornfully said it is ethical and she knows it well because she is in the HR Field.
Please comment on this and let us have a meaningful discussion on this topic.
Thanks and Regards,
Rose
From India, Bangalore
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Hi,
The same case was presented a few months back. It is purely unethical about this question. The same can be avoided if the company is experiencing a shortage of manpower; they should hire more people. Why behave like this? I suppose all employees in that company should either be bachelors or forced bachelors. Better you did not accept that offer.
From India, Coimbatore
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The same case was presented a few months back. It is purely unethical about this question. The same can be avoided if the company is experiencing a shortage of manpower; they should hire more people. Why behave like this? I suppose all employees in that company should either be bachelors or forced bachelors. Better you did not accept that offer.
From India, Coimbatore
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Hi,
She is concerned if you are going to be on long leave just after joining. Sometimes it becomes necessary. Suppose you are appointing a person for a responsible post where you have sharp deadlines, it becomes important to know as the maternity leave is from 3 to 6 months. Maybe she should have put it in a different way. There is nothing unethical, I feel.
Jayashree
From India, Bangalore
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She is concerned if you are going to be on long leave just after joining. Sometimes it becomes necessary. Suppose you are appointing a person for a responsible post where you have sharp deadlines, it becomes important to know as the maternity leave is from 3 to 6 months. Maybe she should have put it in a different way. There is nothing unethical, I feel.
Jayashree
From India, Bangalore
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Of course, I agree with you Jayasree. According to the situations, she might have asked, but the way she put the question may be wrong. She can't say that she is in HR and she can ask anything.
To conclude this, yes, there is nothing as such as unethical or ethical. It was a part of the discussions to meet some of the criteria, and she would have clearly told you before asking this type of question.
Thanks,
- Mirza
From Saudi Arabia, Jiddah
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To conclude this, yes, there is nothing as such as unethical or ethical. It was a part of the discussions to meet some of the criteria, and she would have clearly told you before asking this type of question.
Thanks,
- Mirza
From Saudi Arabia, Jiddah
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Hello,
In the process of a career, one should not lose family values. It is okay to ask about marriage plans when hiring a fresher or a lady, but not plans for intending to have kids. It is God's blessing to have kids. I feel there should not be ambiguity in questions during the interview. I'm shocked by the way recruiters treat the applicants.
Regards,
Rajeshwari
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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In the process of a career, one should not lose family values. It is okay to ask about marriage plans when hiring a fresher or a lady, but not plans for intending to have kids. It is God's blessing to have kids. I feel there should not be ambiguity in questions during the interview. I'm shocked by the way recruiters treat the applicants.
Regards,
Rajeshwari
From United Arab Emirates, Dubai
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Dear Rose,
Though outwardly, the question seems irrelevant, if you delve deeper into the aspect, the interviewer wants to know about your future plans regarding continuing with them. Additionally, she is interested in understanding how much importance you place on other factors.
There is nothing wrong with the question she has posed, but it requires a tactful response. You could have skillfully redirected the conversation.
L. Kumar
From India, Madras
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Though outwardly, the question seems irrelevant, if you delve deeper into the aspect, the interviewer wants to know about your future plans regarding continuing with them. Additionally, she is interested in understanding how much importance you place on other factors.
There is nothing wrong with the question she has posed, but it requires a tactful response. You could have skillfully redirected the conversation.
L. Kumar
From India, Madras
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Dear all,
I understand the sentiments that you have, but we need to look at it in a more professional manner. How can we determine whether or not the question is ethical or unethical? There is no law as such to prevent such questions. It's completely a company's call whether or not they want to hire people who are planning kids. I have seen a couple of instances where ladies (no offense meant for the feminine gender) join a particular organization, and by the time the training is over and they sort of get a hang of the job, they apply for maternity leave. Also, at times due to family pressure, they aren't able to get back to work for the next 1/2 years. The same is applicable for students. We need to look at this problem from an employer's point of view. An employer spends so much on hiring, training, and developing an employee, and after all that, if the employee goes on leave, there is no assurance that the employee will return.
As for the HR lady saying that she is from the HR field and knows that the question is unethical, I feel she is right. As I mentioned above, there is no law that prevents such questions. If the employer is desperate to hire people, we must also remember that people are desperate to get good jobs.
P.S. This reply is my personal opinion, and I don't mean to hurt anyone's sentiments.
From India, Mumbai
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I understand the sentiments that you have, but we need to look at it in a more professional manner. How can we determine whether or not the question is ethical or unethical? There is no law as such to prevent such questions. It's completely a company's call whether or not they want to hire people who are planning kids. I have seen a couple of instances where ladies (no offense meant for the feminine gender) join a particular organization, and by the time the training is over and they sort of get a hang of the job, they apply for maternity leave. Also, at times due to family pressure, they aren't able to get back to work for the next 1/2 years. The same is applicable for students. We need to look at this problem from an employer's point of view. An employer spends so much on hiring, training, and developing an employee, and after all that, if the employee goes on leave, there is no assurance that the employee will return.
As for the HR lady saying that she is from the HR field and knows that the question is unethical, I feel she is right. As I mentioned above, there is no law that prevents such questions. If the employer is desperate to hire people, we must also remember that people are desperate to get good jobs.
P.S. This reply is my personal opinion, and I don't mean to hurt anyone's sentiments.
From India, Mumbai
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Hi Jaspal,
I agree with you that the question is relevant. However, there is no need to bring in law here. In HR, we are dealing with people and focusing on how best we can motivate them to be more productive. Therefore, we simply need to frame our questions in a way that ensures no one feels offended or questions the type of company we are. As representatives of our company, ethics are crucial.
Jayashree
From India, Bangalore
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I agree with you that the question is relevant. However, there is no need to bring in law here. In HR, we are dealing with people and focusing on how best we can motivate them to be more productive. Therefore, we simply need to frame our questions in a way that ensures no one feels offended or questions the type of company we are. As representatives of our company, ethics are crucial.
Jayashree
From India, Bangalore
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I am shocked to know some HR professionals do this, and many HR practitioners here support the unethical questions asked. If the HR team thinks the question was ethical, valid, and a prerequisite for the job, then why not just include it in the job description itself? For example, stating that only candidates who are not planning to have kids in the next two years are eligible to apply.
These HR professionals in the BPO industry are often like this, lacking knowledge and simply following whatever their foreign clients ask of them. Hence, BPO employees are sometimes referred to as cyber coolies due to the nature of the work they perform. It is a shame on HR that we have individuals conducting themselves in such a manner.
My advice would be to move on from this interview experience and seek a good job opportunity elsewhere, not necessarily within a BPO environment.
From India, Pune
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These HR professionals in the BPO industry are often like this, lacking knowledge and simply following whatever their foreign clients ask of them. Hence, BPO employees are sometimes referred to as cyber coolies due to the nature of the work they perform. It is a shame on HR that we have individuals conducting themselves in such a manner.
My advice would be to move on from this interview experience and seek a good job opportunity elsewhere, not necessarily within a BPO environment.
From India, Pune
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Thank you all for your insightful comments on the topic. I believe it is appropriate to inquire about sensitive matters during an interview, such as family planning, if done tactfully. Personally, as a woman, I have refrained from directly asking candidates about their plans for starting a family over the years, as marital status often provides a clue.
I recall a thoughtful approach taken by a former employer when this topic arose. She framed the question as follows: "I am aware that asking about family plans in the US could lead to legal issues, but may I inquire if you intend to prioritize your career equally post starting a family?" I found this approach to be both respectful and effective.
My intention in raising this issue is to highlight the importance of maintaining professionalism in interview settings, especially for HR professionals. I am confident that with our collective insights, we can enhance our interview practices.
Best Regards,
Rose
From India, Bangalore
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I recall a thoughtful approach taken by a former employer when this topic arose. She framed the question as follows: "I am aware that asking about family plans in the US could lead to legal issues, but may I inquire if you intend to prioritize your career equally post starting a family?" I found this approach to be both respectful and effective.
My intention in raising this issue is to highlight the importance of maintaining professionalism in interview settings, especially for HR professionals. I am confident that with our collective insights, we can enhance our interview practices.
Best Regards,
Rose
From India, Bangalore
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