Too many babies???
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I am looking for advice on a rather delicate matter and hoping that the forumites will have some good thoughts on the following:
Our Finance Dept consists of 3 staff members who deal with our 3 US offices, as well as completing all necessary requirements from Head Office in London - Finance Manager, Finance Executive and Finance Assistant.
The current Finance Executive has just left to take up a new position. We advertised internally for a replacement and one of our staff members currently on maternity leave has applied. Whilst she has no specific background in Finance she is intelligent and hardworking so a good possibility. My problem is that the Finance Manager, currently has a 3 year old and is about to go on maternity leave (we are rather generous and she is entitled to 6 months paid leave) and I am a bit concerned that childcare issues could become a problem in the department.
Can I even consider this in determining whether the staff member currently on maternity leave is suitable for the position?
Thanks for any insights
JKK
Our Finance Dept consists of 3 staff members who deal with our 3 US offices, as well as completing all necessary requirements from Head Office in London - Finance Manager, Finance Executive and Finance Assistant.
The current Finance Executive has just left to take up a new position. We advertised internally for a replacement and one of our staff members currently on maternity leave has applied. Whilst she has no specific background in Finance she is intelligent and hardworking so a good possibility. My problem is that the Finance Manager, currently has a 3 year old and is about to go on maternity leave (we are rather generous and she is entitled to 6 months paid leave) and I am a bit concerned that childcare issues could become a problem in the department.
Can I even consider this in determining whether the staff member currently on maternity leave is suitable for the position?
Thanks for any insights
JKK
Comments
To NOT consider a qualified applicant because she has a child is entering a dangerous territory.
As far as attendance, that is between an employee and a supervisor.
So to answer your question, no you can not consider a person's family status when making an employment action.
But to reiterate JM's post: To consider maternity or parental leave and childcare matters as a impediment to consideration is unwise.
I agree with the sesponses you have so far. In particular, I think Crout has hit the nail on the head with respect to qualifications. Being hard-working and intelligent are certainly good qualities to have, but in my experience and opinion, those are not enough to meet usual Finance Executive requirements. There are plenty of significant reasons to require this position to be degreed and a CPA, depending on the nature and complexity of your business.
If your business is such that these are not necessary, perhaps you do not even need this position and a Finance Manager is sufficient. IMHO, that is rarely the case.