Maternal profiling legal?

I checked out the page and WOW! I have never been asked if I am married or had kids at any job I have ever had. I work for a VERY large company and was never asked my religion or sexual orientation or anything like that. I went through my last pregnancy there and never had an issue with any management or supervisors on my abilities(some of my fellow associates I could have dealt without) I can understand where some companies have age restrictions due to labor laws or insurance purposes (in some states a clerk under a certian age cannot sell alcoholic beverages) but to ask if a woman is married or has kids is just a little personal to me

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Thanks for posting this. When I was in management I was in Minnesota, where asking anything is illegal. I had no idea it was so different in other states.

BTW, something is wrong with your momsrising link. The site it took me to was definitely not momsrising.

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Sorry Jenny! Man, thanks for pointing that out...not sure how that happened but the link is now fixed.

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I don't know how they get away with it. That sort of question was supposed to be illegal under Federal law since 1964. They must have found a loophole somehow.

28 states took a giant step backward. I'm going to do some more research because this is news to me. It certainly wasn't happening with my last job interview in early 1978. I happened to mention my kids and the interviewer said "we're not allowed to ask you that" and I said "I can't keep them a secret very well". We both laughed.

We need a class action suit.

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This is absolutely true and you better believe that a good number of employers are aware of this fact, as well. I literally had an interviewer tell me he didn't like to "hire married women because that often meant they'd soon require maternity leave."

Gotta love it.

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I still can't believe these laws would survive a large scale federal challenge. They're discriminatory on their face. It's letter writing time again.

I checked my own state and we're in compliance and even a little ahead of the Federal laws right across the board.

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I was asked on every job interview (in Pennsylvania and in Florida) if I were (1) married (2) pregnant or (3) expecting to become pregnant "in the near future." I was always offended, always refused to answer the question and always asked again, as thought I would change my mind about answering.

My husband was never asked any of those questions when interviewing for positions.

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And another thing -- it is also illegal (under federal law) to discriminate against women because of the family responsibilities. So if mom needs to leave work at 5PM to pick up jr from Daycare -- bossman (or bosswoman) better not be scheduling meetings at 530 (or 445).

The amount of workplace discrimination against mothers is shocking -- SHOCKING.

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Wow, that is not legal here in Michigan, but I have had employers be pretty sneaky about it. Like, casually asking me what I do with my kids while at work. (In other words, will I need to take time off if my kids are sick or I can't take them to daycare?) NO ONE has ever asked my husband what he does for childcare. Why would they? He has me and of course, it's MY job. I am so glad I know about this organization, Mom's Rising! I totally want to get involved! Thanks Kristin!

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So, these states employers have the right to ask these questions, but does anyone know if women have the right to refuse to answer?

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If anything, in my own business I would rather hire someone who is married with kids than someone who isn't (not that it actually enters into our hiring criteria). A married person with kids is usually more stable and unlikely to suddenly decide to switch careers or move to Seattle with a bunch of friends or something along those lines. Having a female employee out of the office for a little while after she gives birth is a small price to pay for the stability that you get from an employee with mouths to feed.

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I am shocked by this, really can't believe it's happening in 2006! Maybe one of you will have another opinion on this topic regarding my situation with my nanny. Check it out- http://interioroffice.wordpress.com/2006/10/17/preggo-nanny-dilemma/

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