"Will you start complaining that your horse and husband want their tea if I ask you to work until 10pm?" is the question I'll always remember being asked by an idiot of an interviewer who clearly had no concept of English employment law, much less manners, marriage or work-life balance to call their own!

This, along with "Are you planning to have children late?", "Are you happily married?" and "Do you ever wear more make-up than that?" are all questions I've been asked in interviews for Senior Admin Assistant (PA) roles in the south of England since the late 1990's My reaction at the time varied depending on how much I wanted the job but I look back now with vague amusement at such gross insensitivity and incompetence by people who actually thought I'd choose to work with such unprofessional characters!

These such questions are now deemed inappropriate and illegal but in my recent experience they have been replaced (in England at least) by the most jaw-droppingly intrusive Equal Opportunities forms. I can understand the need to hire a diverse workforce and not to discriminate against particular race, color, religion or disability. But is it really any business of my future employer what my sexuality or gender is? Recent forms have asked me to disclose whether I'm hetro, lesbian, gay or bi and whether I consider myself to be male, female or transgender. Isn't this discriminating by omission against paedos, perverts and sados?

By all means ensure new recruit compatibility with current staff but as sleeping with my boss is not on my list of services performed as a Personal Assistant I really don't think it any business of theirs what I do in the evening nor whom I do it with!

Other examples of questions to avoid unless you particularly want to be accused of discrimination, inappropriate or illegal behaviour are:

1. What day do you go to church?
2. Will you join the company blood-donoring day?
3. How many children do you have or want?
4. What's your partner's name?
5. How many times have you been divorced?
6. Do your parents live with you?
7. Can you work on the 5th floor if the lift doesn't work?
8. Where do you originally come from?
9. What nationality are your parents?
10. Are you on a diet / going to go on one if we give you this job?
11. Do you suffer from PMT / menopause / forgetfulness / mood swings?
12. When are you / your partner planning to retire?
13. How much overtime are you prepared to work?
14. Is your partner working?

In summary, any question that implies you are looking for a young, fit, healthy, able-bodied, happily married with no dependents, hetro, white Christian man are best left unspoken!

Learn more about this author, Sarah J Palmer.
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