85% of interviewers admit asking candidates off limits questions

A shocking 85% of interviewers, and 78% in the North West; have admitted asking inappropriate questions when grilling job seekers, new research by UK science and technology recruitment specialists, Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS) has revealed. 55% admitted asking candidates what year they were born and 42% asked if the applicant was planning to start a family. In addition, the vast majority (88%) said it was acceptable to ask a candidate whether or not they planned to have children.  The Top 10 'red flag' questions that hiring managers admitted they have asked candidates in interviews include:-

►  What year were you born? (55%)

►  Do you have any children? (56%)

►  Are you physically fit and healthy? (53%)

►  Are you in a relationship or married? (51%)

►  Have you got any plans to start a family? (42%)

►  Where is your accent from? (46%)

►  Will you need flexible time for family life? (46%)

►  Did you grow up outside of the UK? (45%)

►  Will you need time off during ½ term? (43%)

►  Will you need personal time off for religious holidays? (40%)

The research also unveiled confusion among interviewers over what can and cannot be asked in interviews, with 47% of hiring managers saying they have never had official training on what questions are potentially illegal to ask in an interview. Such questions have the potential to breach the law, which requires potential employers to treat all candidates fairly and could be perceived as discriminatory.

The Apprentice winner Ricky Martin, who set up his own recruitment firm (HRS) after winning the reality TV show in 2012, called on Britain's bosses to sharpen up their act when it comes to interviews, to give all applicants an equal chance. He said:- "It's pretty shocking to unearth that such practices are happening every day in the hiring process. It is imperative employers are educated on work place practice, to put a stop to such shocking and interview practices, which lead to unprecedented inequality. Official training should be mandatory across all business sectors for anyone involved in the process of interviewing prospective candidates.  It's also really important a light is shone on what is and isn't acceptable in recruitment to give prospective employees the best possible chance of success at the interview stage."

From an employee point of view, the survey went on to show that 19% feel they have been mistreated in an interview. And, of those, 48% tried to ignore it, 34% told the interviewer how they felt, 19% walked out and just 17% made a complaint to the hiring company. Under 35's are twice as likely (32%) as over 35's (16%) to feel mistreated in an interview and the research showed a marked difference between questions asked of interviewees who are under or over 35. 56% of under 35's were asked what year they graduated compared to just 22% of candidates aged over 35. This is a question that could be used to determine a candidate's age, depending on how it was asked. And 40% of under 35's were asked if they had plans to start a family compared to just 12% of over 35's.

Mr Martin continued:- "This research isn't about suggesting the recruitment process is made easy for interviewees, but ensuring all prospective employees are given a fair, legal and honest opportunity to secure a job based on their skills and ability not their gender, personal choices or maternity / paternity choices!"

The research reveals male interviewers are more likely to think it is acceptable to ask questions about so called:- 'protected characteristics' than female hirers. 77% of interviewers surveyed said they do not think it is potentially illegal to ask:- 'Are you planning on going on maternity / paternity leave?' with 40% thinking the question is acceptable and 36% thinking it is inappropriate, but not potentially illegal. However, 42% of male hiring managers think it is an 'acceptable' question compared to 24% of female hiring managers.

The research also unveiled a lack of interview training among those responsible for hiring staff. Just 36% of those at a Junior level of responsibility said they had received training, compared to 56% of those at Director level and 72% of business owners.

Do you think that this is going to far though, as businesses do need to be able to ask questions that best fit the job they are offering?  Also is it just adding extra ways for businesses to loose money, as they could hire the wrong person for the job, due to being to worried about asking questions in the interview, or worse still asking or not asking a sensible question or even just being friendly ending with a business being taken to Court?  For example, some jobs asking:- "Are you physically fit and healthy?" should be asked, as it could be a safety issue... For example, if you are required to lift heavy objects and also the location might have strobe lighting... Even asking a simple question like:- "Will you have any problems with strobe lighting?" as that itself, could be taken as a 'red flag' question, even though the business is correct to ask it!  Please email your thoughts and views to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com and let us know what you really think about this topic.

Parents less likely to donate child's organs, new figures show

NEW figures show parents are significantly less likely to donate their child's organs for lifesaving transplants, which limits the number of organs available for children on the transplant waiting list. The statistics, released by NHS Blood and Transplant for Organ Donation Week, shows only 48% of families supported donation for a relative aged 17 and under in 2017. That compares to an average of 66% families agreeing for relatives of all ages. The figures have also remained largely static, despite the overall increase in organ donation.

For some children on the waiting list, a young donor is their only hope. Hearts and lungs in particular need to be matched by size because of the limited space inside the chest, and also to ensure the 2 organs have comparable strength and do not overwhelm or under power each other. The shortage of suitable donors means children waiting for an urgent heart transplant will wait 2 and ½ times as long as adults waiting on the urgent waiting list. In the last 3 years, 46 children have died on the transplant waiting list. Of these, 30 were waiting for a heart or lung transplant.

Harry Clarke, who turns 8 months old during Organ Donation Week, is at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital with dilated cardiomyopathy, and his only option is a heart transplant from another child. His parents Kerrie and Rob, have uprooted their lives in Birmingham to be by Harry's side. They know that their only hope will be the parents of another child saying:- "yes" to organ donation at a time of personal tragedy.

Kerrie said:-"We'd hope that family can look at it as an opportunity for their heart to live on through our son. Looking at him without his wires, you wouldn't know he was ill some days. Until you go through this and see how many babies are suffering with heart problems, considering organ donation probably doesn't even cross your mind but it's really important to have those conversations."

Oscar Dunkley, from Redhill in Bournemouth, who turns 1 next week, is currently under the care of Southampton Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital, also for dilated cardiomyopathy. His family have been told it will be a matter of time before he is added to the transplant waiting list. They have been told that at Oscar's age, he'd only be able to receive a transplant from a child a maximum of a couple of years older than himself.

Abbie said:- "We don't know if he will be okay for 4 weeks, 4 months, or 4 years. It's really hard for them to predict."

Abbie, who lives with her partner Josh Dunkley and their oldest son Jack, said she had never thought about organ donation before Oscar's illness. "I campaign for it now and I can understand how people don't think about it because I didn't either. People don't realise how serious it is until you are in that position. I can understand people feel unsure about donating their child's organs but young children can only get a transplant from another child."

Currently, children can join the NHS Organ Donor Register, although those with parental responsibility must give consent for donation after they die. Children in Scotland can self-authorise from 12 years of age. Parents can also choose to add their children to the NHS organ Donor Register at any age. (5)

The overall number of young donors is remaining relatively static at a time when the number of adult organ donors is quickly rising. There were 57 donors aged 17 and under last year, compared to 55 in 2013/14. During the same period, the overall number of deceased organ donors rose by 20%.

Angie Scales, NHS Blood and Transplant Lead Nurse for Paediatric Donation, said:- "For many children on the transplant waiting list, their only hope is the parent of another child saying 'yes' to organ donation at a time of terrible personal grief.  Organ donation can offer comfort to the families of donors through the knowledge that something remarkable came from their loss. There are many children alive today thanks to parents making the decision to donate when saying goodbye to their own child. Words save lives and we'd ask families this Organ Donation Week to talk about whether they'd want to save lives through organ donation if the unthinkable happened. We know that many children respond positively to the idea of organ donation so please talk about this important and lifesaving subject."

Dr Simon Steel, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care Anaesthesia at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust said:- "Looking after children comes with its own set of unique considerations and challenges. The death of a child will have a profound impact on the child's family and upon all the professionals involved in that child's care. I see how devastating it is losing a child, but I also know the profound comfort that a child donors family can take in knowing that they have helped save the lives of others. Every family of a child who is approaching the end of life, and has the potential to donate organs or tissues after death, has the right to be offered this choice."

More than 25 million people are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register, join them today and tell your family you want to save lives. Register at:- OrganDonation.NHS.UK.