Job interviews can be stressful for potential employers too
November 4, 2010 - Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) enquiries and complaints in Western Australia show some potential
employers are asking the wrong questions during job interviews.
"Potential employers do contact the EOC to find out what questions they can ask during the interview process, but some of our complaints show the interviewers don’t always get it right," WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner, Yvonne Henderson said.
One complaint was made by a man who was asked about his family during the interview process.
The interviewer told the man it would be difficult to relocate his family to the job location and he didn’t get the job.
"The matter was conciliated at the EOC and the man was paid $6,140 in compensation by the potential employer," Ms Henderson said.
Another complaint to come to the EOC involved a man who was asked inappropriate questions about his disability, which he said would not have been asked of other candidates.
The organisation apologised to the man, agreed to review the organisation’s interview process and paid the complainant $1,500 in compensation.
Ms Henderson said a recent Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision was a timely reminder for potential employers to review their interview processes.
"The questions asked of the complainant during the interview included whether he had any children and what his date of birth was, which the Queensland Tribunal found unlawful under its Act," she said.
In WA, the EOC has developed a guide for employers titled, ‘Are you getting it right?’ which contains a section on what questions to
ask in an interview and how to ask them.
"This guide, together with our Community Education and Training program, can be a useful tool to help employers and potential
employers avoid discrimination complaints being made against them," Ms Henderson said.
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