Materinity leave

Most of us can probably remember a boss or two who would have liked to ask if we planned to have children and when during an interview but held his (or her) tongue and took a gamble. I entered the work force at a time when managers knew they couldn't ask those questions, but there were plenty before them who did, and others who didn't but made a decision to avoid hiring a soon-to-be pregnant woman at all cost -- forget hiring a pregnant woman for an open position.

So much has changed, right? It has at many companies, but a British survey of managers found some disheartening yet honest answers when only 5 percent said they have knowingly hired a pregnant woman. Another 52 percent said that when making a hire they try to figure out if and when a woman will get pregnant, taking into account her age (if they know it?) and whether she is recently married. And a pretty solid majority (68) percent said they would like to ask job candidates about their plans to start a family during interviews.

As if planning is everything. Read More »