Bosses want 'more rights' to question candidates about pregnancy

Many bosses would like more rights to question candidates about their plans to have children, according to research by the Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS).

The survey, commissioned after ELAS saw an increase in the number of cases involving pregnancy and new employees, found that 68% of bosses would like more rights to ask candidates about their plans regarding pregnancy. Direct questions are currently forbidden under sex discrimination law.

Canvassing 1,100 company bosses and personnel managers, the survey found that over half (52%) of potential employers admitted taking into account a candidate's age and whether they had just got married in an attempt to weigh up the 'risk' of them taking imminent maternity leave.

Some 86% of bosses said they would 'feel cheated' if a candidate started a job and announced within weeks that they were pregnant. Just 5% said they had employed someone they knew to be pregnant.

"For many bosses it is down to the bottom line – a pregnant member of staff will cost money," said Peter Mooney, head of consultancy at ELAS.

"However a visit to a tribunal can be even more costly," he warned.