The Apprentice

Rumours of a pregnancy surrounding one of the contestants on the current series of The Apprentice have highlighted the ongoing issue of sex discrimination in the recruitment process.

Reports have suggested that one of the candidates in the show may be in the early stages of pregnancy.  If true this highlights the recruitment dilemma faced by many employers who want to hire people in line with employment legislation but are concerned about a new member of staff potentially going on maternity leave within months of accepting the job.

Under the Sexual Discrimination Act, it is illegal for employers to question potential employees about their family aspirations so where does this leave employers who are faced with a candidate who they think might be pregnant?

From a recruitment perspective, Eleanor Pugh, director of Sellick Partnership, Preston, comments: “When someone walks into an interview, first and foremost they are there because of their skills and talents. Modern-day managers need to be looking at people for the value they bring to the organisations not for the burden.

“Pregnancy shouldn’t frighten potential employers away. From a financial point of view, statutory maternity pay can be claimed back from the government and if managed properly in the workplace, businesses can save money on training by bringing their employees back to work after maternity leave.

“Most successful businesses these days recognise that an equal opportunities approach to all aspects of the recruitment process, is most effective in creating a diverse workforce.”