[frgtn]

Europe (at least in my country, eastern Europe) has strict social security laws. Firms cannot fire a person if he/she takes a vacation for child care (men are encouraged to do that too!). The vacation lasts up to 2 years (IIRC). The time is paid for by the government, but you lose your highly-qualified and trained employee for 2 years.

Facts aside, I don't approve the author making such a big thing of it though it sometimes may be an issue (if you're hiring for a long project where replacing people is REALLY expensive).

[flojito]

In Spain you cannot fire a pregnant woman. It could be even illegal asking for it in a job interview... Recent laws allow the father taking the 50% of vacation for child care. In candidates lists -algo by law- there must be 50/50 men/women. So, definitely, Hungary is not representative from European Union.

[Jare]

In countries such as Canada or the US it is effectively illegal to ask any personal questions in a job interview (religion, age, social & family status, ideology). In Spain those kinds of things are the first questions a woman gets asked, and for most common jobs, children (present or future) in practice mean she won't get the job. I am not aware of any restrictions that discourage this practice or allow her to safely refuse to answer.

I know of at least one employer who privately boasts that when he needs to hire a woman, he will only hire a lesbian, to avoid this issue altogether.

[wazoox]

> when he needs to hire a woman, he will only hire a lesbian, to avoid this issue altogether.

What a moron. Lesbians have children too. From my own anecdotal information on this, about in the same proportion as heterosexual women.

[burgerbrain]

I don't think it is fair to call somebody a moron for being unfamiliar with a topic that has, in many countries, been "neither seen nor heard" until quite recently.

He is certainly incorrect, but a moron? No, he needs correcting, not insulting.

[dextorious]

Not in all places of the world. In a lot of places they won't even admit publicly that they are lesbians...

[nakkiel]

It's illegal to hide your pregnancy from your employer. If you do so, you simply don't get compensated and expressly give the right to your employer to put the contract to an end.

[Schmidt]

In what country? You have no obligation in Sweden to tell anything about pregnancy or illness you may have.

[Jare]

As far as I know, in Spain the mother must disclose her pregnancy before 6 months.

[nakkiel]

And during the recruitment process, to the best of her knowledge.

[shakesbeard]

Same in Switzerland.