Single, divorced, married and so on
By Kevin
@kevin1877uk (36987)
October 21, 2015 5:24pm CST
Single, divorced, married and so on
I was filling in some job applications today and they asked my status, was a single, married, divorces and so no. I’m not sure to why they need to ask that in the first place.
Maybe they only want married people working for them or all single people, then again that would be discrimination.
Now I’m single but divorced which should I put? I put single on some and divorced on others, to me I can’t understand why they need that info.
What about you do you think they need to know that info.
12 people like this
16 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Maybe they might need to know for benefit purposes.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
22 Oct 15
@Tampa_girl7 I doubt it. You fill out different forms for insurance.
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
22 Oct 15
Oh thank you for that one, I never really understood it myself.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30413)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Oct 15
I think the questions they ask are very personal, and as far as I am concerned, you should have the option not to answer them. I don't understand what that has to do with doing your job in the first place. It just doesn't make any sense. I think they overstep there bounds when they ask questions that are really none of thier busines.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30413)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Oct 15
@kevin1877uk I am wondering if you ask them why they want that information, what they would tell you. They would probably lie through their teeth, more than likely.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
22 Oct 15
Totally agree with you, it's got nothing to do with the job.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502194)
• Italy
23 Oct 15
@kevin1877uk The Italian authorities have even removed this mention from our official documents. This is something personal, we can keep it private.
@gudheart (12659)
•
22 Oct 15
@kevin1877uk especially as they say they don't discriminate! They obviously do.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
22 Oct 15
It is actually against the "Equal Opportunity Employment Law" to ask questions like this in either an application form or an interview, in Ireland at least. It's on par with "do you have children"? "do you plan to have children?". Candidates have taken corporations to court and won cases on the grounds of discrimination.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
22 Oct 15
I'm not sure that the UK but I do think that it's wrong to do so.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
22 Oct 15
@kevin1877uk Yep Irish legislation on this was updated in 2004, marital status is one of the protected categories.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
22 Oct 15
@Drosophila And it should be, there are toomany questions which shouldn't be asked.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Oct 15
You are right, it could be discrimination. i find that many HR offices get stuck asking the same questions they used to ask forty years ago, even though they are not appropriate now.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
22 Oct 15
Totally agree, just so many questions which have nothing to do with the job.
@Samanthavv (1380)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Who knows? They ask a lot of stupid questions on forms. I took my baby to a pediatricians office and they asked what her current occupation and former occupation where. I put baby for current and fetus for former. The receptionist wasn't amused.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
22 Oct 15
They dont need that info..it is discrimination.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
22 Oct 15
No they don't and yes they could use it to discriminate.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
22 Oct 15
Then there is the conundrum of some people considering single to mean in a relationship but not married. I have been divorced for several years now and been gainfully employed for the same amount of time. I put divorced on my info for the company but single for tax purposes.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
22 Oct 15
I glad you do only pay singer person tax. Been divorced for 10 years and this is the first I've had to apply for a job.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Oct 15
yeah, unless you are having to deal with insurance for family members that's not relevant
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
22 Oct 15
I'm also divorced and never know which to check....single or divorced.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
25 Oct 15
yes, that seems like an odd question on a job questionaire
1 person likes this
it's best if you only have one answer though 
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
22 Oct 15
It is illegal to ask that question when interviewing for a job here in Canada. However, when you get the job, questions like this are necessary for administrative purposes
1 person likes this
