Anonymous
05/23/2020 15:45
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re interviewing nannies (remote online interviews) this weekend and would like to find a single nanny who lives alone. Is that a legal question?
How would you like it if an employer asked you? NO! Of course it isn't and you should know better!
If my job was caring for young children or elderly people, I’d understand and be fine with it. I think OP can and should ask.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 15:34
Subject: Re:Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:That question would violate anti-discrimination laws, but as an employer of only a single employee, I don’t think you’re technically subject to those laws. That said, I think it’s worth considering the purpose of the question and whether that question is a good way to achieve that purpose. If you’re trying to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure, you might be safer with someone who’s married to a partner who works from home right now than a single person who feels isolated at home alone and therefore is hanging out with groups of friends on the weekend.
Don't be so quick to jump to assumptions. I'm a single person who lives alone, and I'm happy as a clam. I have no desire to hang out with friends.
+1. I am a single nanny who lives alone and I am 100% isolated on weekends and evenings. My employers even do my grocery shopping for me. Yes, it gets lonely but the health of my charge and my pregnant (and wonderful) employer is at stake. It’s a small sacrifice.
PP didn't say that all single people are going out. She said that you can't assume that the single person would be safer, because both single and married people have varied lifestyles.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 15:30
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:Whether someone lives along isn’t a protected class.
Depending on where you live, familial status/responsibility is protected and this question can too easily be misinterpreted to be trying to weed out people with familial responsibilities (especially since it actually is).
Anonymous
05/23/2020 15:20
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Whether someone lives along isn’t a protected class.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 15:18
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:We’re interviewing nannies (remote online interviews) this weekend and would like to find a single nanny who lives alone. Is that a legal question?
You can ask but Don't be surprised when they tell you it is none of your business . Also, don't be surprised when they tell you the interview is over. Who the hell do you think you are in delving into her personal life?
Anonymous
05/23/2020 14:55
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:We’re interviewing nannies (remote online interviews) this weekend and would like to find a single nanny who lives alone. Is that a legal question?
How would you like it if an employer asked you? NO! Of course it isn't and you should know better!
Anonymous
05/23/2020 14:02
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
I think it makes more sense to ask nanny candidates about what social distancing precautions they are taking. You are assuming a single person will be more isolated, but that may not be the case. Ask the question you really want to an answer to. I also don't think there are any legal issues associated with asking what precautions/exposures any members of their household have.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 13:58
Subject: Re:Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:That question would violate anti-discrimination laws, but as an employer of only a single employee, I don’t think you’re technically subject to those laws. That said, I think it’s worth considering the purpose of the question and whether that question is a good way to achieve that purpose. If you’re trying to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure, you might be safer with someone who’s married to a partner who works from home right now than a single person who feels isolated at home alone and therefore is hanging out with groups of friends on the weekend.
Don't be so quick to jump to assumptions. I'm a single person who lives alone, and I'm happy as a clam. I have no desire to hang out with friends.
+1. I am a single nanny who lives alone and I am 100% isolated on weekends and evenings. My employers even do my grocery shopping for me. Yes, it gets lonely but the health of my charge and my pregnant (and wonderful) employer is at stake. It’s a small sacrifice.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 11:57
Subject: Re:Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:That question would violate anti-discrimination laws, but as an employer of only a single employee, I don’t think you’re technically subject to those laws. That said, I think it’s worth considering the purpose of the question and whether that question is a good way to achieve that purpose. If you’re trying to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure, you might be safer with someone who’s married to a partner who works from home right now than a single person who feels isolated at home alone and therefore is hanging out with groups of friends on the weekend.
Don't be so quick to jump to assumptions. I'm a single person who lives alone, and I'm happy as a clam. I have no desire to hang out with friends.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 11:55
Subject: Re:Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
Anonymous wrote:That question would violate anti-discrimination laws, but as an employer of only a single employee, I don’t think you’re technically subject to those laws. That said, I think it’s worth considering the purpose of the question and whether that question is a good way to achieve that purpose. If you’re trying to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure, you might be safer with someone who’s married to a partner who works from home right now than a single person who feels isolated at home alone and therefore is hanging out with groups of friends on the weekend.
I disagree. You have to trust your nanny - you don’t know or have reason to trust her husband. Trusting just one person is hard enough.
I know our nanny, who is older and lives alone, is socially distancing on weekends. We’re very lucky.
And to OP, yes - no one is going to fault you during a pandemic for asking her living arrangements.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 09:35
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
You can ask general questions and she might disclose her living arrangements.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 09:34
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
It is illegal to ask marital status and it is illegal to make your hiring decision on marital status.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 09:32
Subject: Re:Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
It shouldn’t matter to you whether it’s illegal (like PP said you might technically skate) but it should matter to you that it’s wrong.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 09:28
Subject: Re:Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
That question would violate anti-discrimination laws, but as an employer of only a single employee, I don’t think you’re technically subject to those laws. That said, I think it’s worth considering the purpose of the question and whether that question is a good way to achieve that purpose. If you’re trying to reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure, you might be safer with someone who’s married to a partner who works from home right now than a single person who feels isolated at home alone and therefore is hanging out with groups of friends on the weekend.
Anonymous
05/23/2020 09:21
Subject: Can you legally ask a nanny candidate if she lives alone?
We’re interviewing nannies (remote online interviews) this weekend and would like to find a single nanny who lives alone. Is that a legal question?