Illegal interview/application questions in the UK? [closed]

Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;

up vote
-1
down vote

favorite

What questions (if any) are not allowed to be asked during an interview and in applications in the UK?

I have been applying for positions and sometimes they ask for things like race and religious affiliation. I find this rather awkward coming from Canada. As someone who cannot work during certain hours due to religious reasons, I like getting my foot in the door so they can see what I can offer and possibly make adjustments for me, but I wouldn't want to be discarded without a chance.

Also, what would be the right way to address working hours (taking into consideration I can't work during certain hours) in a phone interview? Should I mention it? Or should I not bring this up until a formal interview? I just had a phone interview and I did mention my religious reasons when asked about working hours and I was asked further questions, but it ended on the note that they needed someone with more flexible hours and that it possibly wouldn't work for them.

interviewing

share|improve this question

edited Aug 19 '13 at 14:03

yoozer8

4,10442955

asked Aug 19 '13 at 13:59

BU982T

201125

closed as off-topic by Joe Strazzere, MrFox, jcmeloni, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey Aug 19 '13 at 15:26

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking legal advice are off-topic as they require answers by legal professionals. See: What is asking for legal advice?" – Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you want to narrow down your answer a bit. Right now you're asking a very broad list-based question, which cannot have a single good defined answer.
  – MrFox
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It sounds like you have two questions here -- what's legal in the UK, and how do you handle the religious-accommodation issue. I recommend splitting into two questions. (But search the site; I think we've had the latter.)
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Discussion here: meta.workplace.stackexchange.com/q/1983/325
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 16:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What part of the UK? There are differing laws regarding applicant questions regarding religion etc in different parts of the UK
  – Amy
  Aug 20 '13 at 10:51
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Amy Northern Ireland has a lot of extra laws dealing with sectarian issues and you can get into serious trouble if you do not follow them.
  – Pepone
  Oct 6 '15 at 20:30
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
-1
down vote

favorite

What questions (if any) are not allowed to be asked during an interview and in applications in the UK?

I have been applying for positions and sometimes they ask for things like race and religious affiliation. I find this rather awkward coming from Canada. As someone who cannot work during certain hours due to religious reasons, I like getting my foot in the door so they can see what I can offer and possibly make adjustments for me, but I wouldn't want to be discarded without a chance.

Also, what would be the right way to address working hours (taking into consideration I can't work during certain hours) in a phone interview? Should I mention it? Or should I not bring this up until a formal interview? I just had a phone interview and I did mention my religious reasons when asked about working hours and I was asked further questions, but it ended on the note that they needed someone with more flexible hours and that it possibly wouldn't work for them.

interviewing

share|improve this question

edited Aug 19 '13 at 14:03

yoozer8

4,10442955

asked Aug 19 '13 at 13:59

BU982T

201125

closed as off-topic by Joe Strazzere, MrFox, jcmeloni, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey Aug 19 '13 at 15:26

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking legal advice are off-topic as they require answers by legal professionals. See: What is asking for legal advice?" – Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you want to narrow down your answer a bit. Right now you're asking a very broad list-based question, which cannot have a single good defined answer.
  – MrFox
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It sounds like you have two questions here -- what's legal in the UK, and how do you handle the religious-accommodation issue. I recommend splitting into two questions. (But search the site; I think we've had the latter.)
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Discussion here: meta.workplace.stackexchange.com/q/1983/325
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 16:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What part of the UK? There are differing laws regarding applicant questions regarding religion etc in different parts of the UK
  – Amy
  Aug 20 '13 at 10:51
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Amy Northern Ireland has a lot of extra laws dealing with sectarian issues and you can get into serious trouble if you do not follow them.
  – Pepone
  Oct 6 '15 at 20:30
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
-1
down vote

favorite

up vote
-1
down vote

favorite

What questions (if any) are not allowed to be asked during an interview and in applications in the UK?

I have been applying for positions and sometimes they ask for things like race and religious affiliation. I find this rather awkward coming from Canada. As someone who cannot work during certain hours due to religious reasons, I like getting my foot in the door so they can see what I can offer and possibly make adjustments for me, but I wouldn't want to be discarded without a chance.

Also, what would be the right way to address working hours (taking into consideration I can't work during certain hours) in a phone interview? Should I mention it? Or should I not bring this up until a formal interview? I just had a phone interview and I did mention my religious reasons when asked about working hours and I was asked further questions, but it ended on the note that they needed someone with more flexible hours and that it possibly wouldn't work for them.

interviewing

share|improve this question

edited Aug 19 '13 at 14:03

yoozer8

4,10442955

asked Aug 19 '13 at 13:59

BU982T

201125

What questions (if any) are not allowed to be asked during an interview and in applications in the UK?

I have been applying for positions and sometimes they ask for things like race and religious affiliation. I find this rather awkward coming from Canada. As someone who cannot work during certain hours due to religious reasons, I like getting my foot in the door so they can see what I can offer and possibly make adjustments for me, but I wouldn't want to be discarded without a chance.

Also, what would be the right way to address working hours (taking into consideration I can't work during certain hours) in a phone interview? Should I mention it? Or should I not bring this up until a formal interview? I just had a phone interview and I did mention my religious reasons when asked about working hours and I was asked further questions, but it ended on the note that they needed someone with more flexible hours and that it possibly wouldn't work for them.

interviewing

share|improve this question

edited Aug 19 '13 at 14:03

yoozer8

4,10442955

asked Aug 19 '13 at 13:59

BU982T

201125

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited Aug 19 '13 at 14:03

yoozer8

4,10442955

edited Aug 19 '13 at 14:03

yoozer8

4,10442955

edited Aug 19 '13 at 14:03

yoozer8

4,10442955

4,10442955

asked Aug 19 '13 at 13:59

BU982T

201125

asked Aug 19 '13 at 13:59

BU982T

201125

asked Aug 19 '13 at 13:59

BU982T

201125

201125

closed as off-topic by Joe Strazzere, MrFox, jcmeloni, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey Aug 19 '13 at 15:26

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking legal advice are off-topic as they require answers by legal professionals. See: What is asking for legal advice?" – Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

closed as off-topic by Joe Strazzere, MrFox, jcmeloni, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey Aug 19 '13 at 15:26

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking legal advice are off-topic as they require answers by legal professionals. See: What is asking for legal advice?" – Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, Michael Grubey

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you want to narrow down your answer a bit. Right now you're asking a very broad list-based question, which cannot have a single good defined answer.
  – MrFox
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It sounds like you have two questions here -- what's legal in the UK, and how do you handle the religious-accommodation issue. I recommend splitting into two questions. (But search the site; I think we've had the latter.)
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Discussion here: meta.workplace.stackexchange.com/q/1983/325
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 16:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What part of the UK? There are differing laws regarding applicant questions regarding religion etc in different parts of the UK
  – Amy
  Aug 20 '13 at 10:51
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Amy Northern Ireland has a lot of extra laws dealing with sectarian issues and you can get into serious trouble if you do not follow them.
  – Pepone
  Oct 6 '15 at 20:30
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Perhaps you want to narrow down your answer a bit. Right now you're asking a very broad list-based question, which cannot have a single good defined answer.
  – MrFox
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  It sounds like you have two questions here -- what's legal in the UK, and how do you handle the religious-accommodation issue. I recommend splitting into two questions. (But search the site; I think we've had the latter.)
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 14:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Discussion here: meta.workplace.stackexchange.com/q/1983/325
  – Monica Cellio♦
  Aug 19 '13 at 16:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  What part of the UK? There are differing laws regarding applicant questions regarding religion etc in different parts of the UK
  – Amy
  Aug 20 '13 at 10:51
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @Amy Northern Ireland has a lot of extra laws dealing with sectarian issues and you can get into serious trouble if you do not follow them.
  – Pepone
  Oct 6 '15 at 20:30
  

  
  
  
  

Perhaps you want to narrow down your answer a bit. Right now you're asking a very broad list-based question, which cannot have a single good defined answer.
– MrFox
Aug 19 '13 at 14:46

Perhaps you want to narrow down your answer a bit. Right now you're asking a very broad list-based question, which cannot have a single good defined answer.
– MrFox
Aug 19 '13 at 14:46

1

1

It sounds like you have two questions here -- what's legal in the UK, and how do you handle the religious-accommodation issue. I recommend splitting into two questions. (But search the site; I think we've had the latter.)
– Monica Cellio♦
Aug 19 '13 at 14:46

It sounds like you have two questions here -- what's legal in the UK, and how do you handle the religious-accommodation issue. I recommend splitting into two questions. (But search the site; I think we've had the latter.)
– Monica Cellio♦
Aug 19 '13 at 14:46

3

3

Discussion here: meta.workplace.stackexchange.com/q/1983/325
– Monica Cellio♦
Aug 19 '13 at 16:23

Discussion here: meta.workplace.stackexchange.com/q/1983/325
– Monica Cellio♦
Aug 19 '13 at 16:23

What part of the UK? There are differing laws regarding applicant questions regarding religion etc in different parts of the UK
– Amy
Aug 20 '13 at 10:51

What part of the UK? There are differing laws regarding applicant questions regarding religion etc in different parts of the UK
– Amy
Aug 20 '13 at 10:51

@Amy Northern Ireland has a lot of extra laws dealing with sectarian issues and you can get into serious trouble if you do not follow them.
– Pepone
Oct 6 '15 at 20:30

@Amy Northern Ireland has a lot of extra laws dealing with sectarian issues and you can get into serious trouble if you do not follow them.
– Pepone
Oct 6 '15 at 20:30

 | 
show 1 more comment

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

up vote
4
down vote



accepted

The race and religious questions are optional for the majority of jobs (there are only certain roles that they are allowed to factor them into, for example Catholic schools can favour a Catholic teacher).

It's hard to give an exact recommendation on hours without more info. If you're unable to work during the standard UK business day (i.e. 9am-5pm) I'd be upfront (at formal interview, don't mention before), but wait until asked (or raise at the your questions at the end). Always best to wait until you've shown them how good you are before discussing. Mention it too early and they'll find something else to dislike about you that they can rule you out on.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

add a comment | 

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
4
down vote



accepted

The race and religious questions are optional for the majority of jobs (there are only certain roles that they are allowed to factor them into, for example Catholic schools can favour a Catholic teacher).

It's hard to give an exact recommendation on hours without more info. If you're unable to work during the standard UK business day (i.e. 9am-5pm) I'd be upfront (at formal interview, don't mention before), but wait until asked (or raise at the your questions at the end). Always best to wait until you've shown them how good you are before discussing. Mention it too early and they'll find something else to dislike about you that they can rule you out on.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote



accepted

The race and religious questions are optional for the majority of jobs (there are only certain roles that they are allowed to factor them into, for example Catholic schools can favour a Catholic teacher).

It's hard to give an exact recommendation on hours without more info. If you're unable to work during the standard UK business day (i.e. 9am-5pm) I'd be upfront (at formal interview, don't mention before), but wait until asked (or raise at the your questions at the end). Always best to wait until you've shown them how good you are before discussing. Mention it too early and they'll find something else to dislike about you that they can rule you out on.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote



accepted

up vote
4
down vote



accepted

The race and religious questions are optional for the majority of jobs (there are only certain roles that they are allowed to factor them into, for example Catholic schools can favour a Catholic teacher).

It's hard to give an exact recommendation on hours without more info. If you're unable to work during the standard UK business day (i.e. 9am-5pm) I'd be upfront (at formal interview, don't mention before), but wait until asked (or raise at the your questions at the end). Always best to wait until you've shown them how good you are before discussing. Mention it too early and they'll find something else to dislike about you that they can rule you out on.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

The race and religious questions are optional for the majority of jobs (there are only certain roles that they are allowed to factor them into, for example Catholic schools can favour a Catholic teacher).

It's hard to give an exact recommendation on hours without more info. If you're unable to work during the standard UK business day (i.e. 9am-5pm) I'd be upfront (at formal interview, don't mention before), but wait until asked (or raise at the your questions at the end). Always best to wait until you've shown them how good you are before discussing. Mention it too early and they'll find something else to dislike about you that they can rule you out on.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:47

The Wandering Dev Manager

29.8k956107

29.8k956107

add a comment | 

add a comment |