Lord Sugar: Employers should be allowed to ask about plans to have children

Posted 04/03/2011

Lord Sugar has raised controversy about the current employment law in Britain by arguing that employers should be allowed to ask prospective female employees about their plans to have children.

The Apprentice star and Labour peer said it is “counterproductive” for firms not to be able to ask women if they intend to take time off work to have a baby in the near future.

He also stated that women “should be forthcoming when being interviewed” about their stance on having a family and then “focus on what skills they can bring to the company and why they should be employed”.

Despite this, Lord Sugar said he is not biased when it comes to employing women within his organisation.

According to the Direct Gov website, it is automatically sex discrimination if an employer dismisses or refuses to employ someone for a reason connected with maternity leave, birth or pregnancy.

Anyone affected may wish to seek the services of an employment law solicitor.