4 ms·

"A relative of mine was just denied residency at a prestigious hospital when the admissions committee found out through Facebook that she has children..." Woul

"A relative of mine was just denied residency at a prestigious hospital when the admissions committee found out through Facebook that she has children..." Would you care to elaborate on that?

pron 15y ago
Well, I don't want to give too much information because that's a very well known hospital in a major US city, but after the interview, a contact of hers on "the inside" told her that he'd heard the interview had not gone that well because the panel didn't like that she was too concerned with the work hours. She, of course, never mentioned or asked anything about the hours (she's too smart for that), but then remembered that one of the interviewers told her that he'd looked her up online. She appears in her Facebook profile picture with her two small children. And it's a well known fact among young doctors that that particular hospital, an many other like it, does not care to hire residents with young children, esp. female residents.
- alexro 15y ago
  Didn't they know her family situation and how many children she has before looking up the facebook?
  - pron 15y ago
    No, and they're not allowed to ask either.
    - loceng 15y ago
      "but then remembered that one of the interviewers told her that he'd looked her up online" Fine line relating to privacy there.. something perhaps to look into.
    - gergles 15y ago
      This is incorrect - they are allowed to ask whatever they want... they just can't use the information as part of their decision making process if it reveals membership in a protected class. So, there's no point in asking, but it isn't illegal for them to ask it.
      - dalke 15y ago
        The next two paragraphs are quoted from http://www.wageproject.org/files/tart_mart_Interview_Questions_legal.php http://www.wageproject.org/files/tart_mart_Interview_Questio... : In the Second Circuit (CT, NY, VT)[13] and Eighth Circuit (ND, SD, NE, MN, IA, MO, AR)[14], courts have found that an employer violates Title VII when they ask questions about childbearing plans, pregnancy, child care, and/or whether their husband approves of the job and its requirements. Courts in these circuits have found that those types of interview questions are discriminatory and directly affect the hiring decision in violation of Title VII. However, courts are not as friendly in the Seventh Circuit (IL, IN, WS). There, a woman applied for a paramedic position and was asked during the interview, she was asked about the number of children she would have, her child care arrangements, and how her husband would feel about the job. The interviewer admitted that he did not ask male applicants the same questions. However, her claim failed because the court found that the evidence did not support the finding that her sex was a determining factor in the decision to hire a man. She failed to show substantial evidence that the interviewer relied on the gender stereotyping questions when making its decision not to hire her.[15] So, check the court circuit you're in before you ask the questions which a large number people and online-resources assert is "illegal." Even if it isn't illegal in your state, you're going to run across candidates who think it's at least immoral and prima facie indication of discrimination.
- artmageddon 15y ago
  I thought employers weren't allowed to ask about age, religion and family situations. I realize that finding it on Facebook is not the same as asking, but it strikes me as pretty shady if not a little overreaching. I could be wrong, though.
  - fossuser 15y ago
    You're right, it's illegal to ask any of those personal questions. Although if she did make a big deal about the hours during the interview then it would be okay to reject over concern about "failing to meet required schedule" or something like that.
  - a_a_r_o_n 15y ago
    That's the beauty of Facebook, you get to find the answers to all kinds of illegal questions. Collateral information, if you will.
- biafra 15y ago
  Why would that be a problem if we knew which hospital it was?
- joering2 15y ago
  > Well, I don't want to give too much information because that's a very well known hospital in a major US city, and the reason why you dont want to warn everyone against the hospital that seems to be prejudice and unlawfully asking questions it shouldn't is?

"A relative of mine was just denied residency at a prestigious hospital when the admissions committee found out through Facebook that she has children..." Would you care to elaborate on that?

pron 15y ago

Well, I don't want to give too much information because that's a very well known hospital in a major US city, but after the interview, a contact of hers on "the inside" told her that he'd heard the interview had not gone that well because the panel didn't like that she was too concerned with the work hours. She, of course, never mentioned or asked anything about the hours (she's too smart for that), but then remembered that one of the interviewers told her that he'd looked her up online. She appears in her Facebook profile picture with her two small children. And it's a well known fact among young doctors that that particular hospital, an many other like it, does not care to hire residents with young children, esp. female residents.

alexro 15y ago
Didn't they know her family situation and how many children she has before looking up the facebook?
- pron 15y ago
  No, and they're not allowed to ask either.
  - loceng 15y ago
    "but then remembered that one of the interviewers told her that he'd looked her up online" Fine line relating to privacy there.. something perhaps to look into.
  - gergles 15y ago
    This is incorrect - they are allowed to ask whatever they want... they just can't use the information as part of their decision making process if it reveals membership in a protected class. So, there's no point in asking, but it isn't illegal for them to ask it.
    - dalke 15y ago
      The next two paragraphs are quoted from http://www.wageproject.org/files/tart_mart_Interview_Questions_legal.php http://www.wageproject.org/files/tart_mart_Interview_Questio... : In the Second Circuit (CT, NY, VT)[13] and Eighth Circuit (ND, SD, NE, MN, IA, MO, AR)[14], courts have found that an employer violates Title VII when they ask questions about childbearing plans, pregnancy, child care, and/or whether their husband approves of the job and its requirements. Courts in these circuits have found that those types of interview questions are discriminatory and directly affect the hiring decision in violation of Title VII. However, courts are not as friendly in the Seventh Circuit (IL, IN, WS). There, a woman applied for a paramedic position and was asked during the interview, she was asked about the number of children she would have, her child care arrangements, and how her husband would feel about the job. The interviewer admitted that he did not ask male applicants the same questions. However, her claim failed because the court found that the evidence did not support the finding that her sex was a determining factor in the decision to hire a man. She failed to show substantial evidence that the interviewer relied on the gender stereotyping questions when making its decision not to hire her.[15] So, check the court circuit you're in before you ask the questions which a large number people and online-resources assert is "illegal." Even if it isn't illegal in your state, you're going to run across candidates who think it's at least immoral and prima facie indication of discrimination.
artmageddon 15y ago
I thought employers weren't allowed to ask about age, religion and family situations. I realize that finding it on Facebook is not the same as asking, but it strikes me as pretty shady if not a little overreaching. I could be wrong, though.
- fossuser 15y ago
  You're right, it's illegal to ask any of those personal questions. Although if she did make a big deal about the hours during the interview then it would be okay to reject over concern about "failing to meet required schedule" or something like that.
- a_a_r_o_n 15y ago
  That's the beauty of Facebook, you get to find the answers to all kinds of illegal questions. Collateral information, if you will.
biafra 15y ago
Why would that be a problem if we knew which hospital it was?
joering2 15y ago
> Well, I don't want to give too much information because that's a very well known hospital in a major US city, and the reason why you dont want to warn everyone against the hospital that seems to be prejudice and unlawfully asking questions it shouldn't is?