xAn Australian jobseeker has taken to social media to expose what she calls the "mother of all red flags" after a potential employer asked her a deeply personal—and arguably illegal—question during the hiring process.
Sasha, who was applying for a role at a small business, was left stunned when she came across a question in the company's job application asking about her current relationship status. The multiple-choice responses ranged from “married” and “single” to “I don’t know what I’m in, I’m confused.”
Recognizing the question as wildly inappropriate, Sasha reached out to the company’s CEO for clarification. His response? Even more alarming.
"I still ask it anyway because from our cultural perspective, it's important for me to know what kind of mental stability someone is in when they are planning to look after our team," the CEO replied.
He went on to claim that an applicant’s “ability to manage a relationship” revealed a lot about their character and suitability for the job.
Sasha, however, wasn’t buying it.
Immediately realizing this was a workplace she wanted no part of, Sasha shut down the process. Speaking to Yahoo! Finance, she explained:
"I knew in that moment I would not be proceeding with the questionnaire—it told me all I needed to know about the employer."
Taking her experience to TikTok, Sasha issued a warning to other jobseekers:
"If anybody ever asks you a question that is inappropriate and has nothing to do with the role, absolutely run for the hills. If they have no boundaries during the hiring process, they’re going to continue to push those boundaries in the workplace."
Sasha’s story has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the legality of such a hiring practice. In Australia, anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from making hiring decisions based on marital status, making the CEO’s approach not just unethical, but potentially illegal.
While small businesses often operate with fewer formal hiring policies, employment experts warn that personal questions like these could open companies up to serious legal consequences.
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CEO's Bizarre Justification
Recognizing the question as wildly inappropriate, Sasha reached out to the company’s CEO for clarification. His response? Even more alarming.Recognizing the question as wildly inappropriate, Sasha reached out to the company’s CEO for clarification.
He went on to claim that an applicant’s “ability to manage a relationship” revealed a lot about their character and suitability for the job.
Sasha, however, wasn’t buying it.
"I knew in that moment I would not be proceeding with the questionnaire—it told me all I needed to know about the employer."
Taking her experience to TikTok, Sasha issued a warning to other jobseekers:
"If anybody ever asks you a question that is inappropriate and has nothing to do with the role, absolutely run for the hills. If they have no boundaries during the hiring process, they’re going to continue to push those boundaries in the workplace."
Is This Even Legal?
Sasha’s story has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the legality of such a hiring practice. In Australia, anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from making hiring decisions based on marital status, making the CEO’s approach not just unethical, but potentially illegal.While small businesses often operate with fewer formal hiring policies, employment experts warn that personal questions like these could open companies up to serious legal consequences.
