An Ontario interviewer asks about age or family plans: how should I assess it?

Assess the question and its purpose

OHRC hiring guidance focuses questions on job qualifications and discusses questions connected to protected Ontario Code grounds. Specific exceptions and accommodation discussions need individual assessment. A question about meeting an advertised schedule and a question about family plans are different enquiries. Record the wording, recruitment context and subsequent decision rather than assuming that every mention of personal circumstances has the same legal consequence.

Record the exact exchange

Record the date, interviewer’s role, the actual question, your reply and any explanation. Distinguish a stated availability requirement from a question about having children. Note whether your accommodation request prompted the discussion. If you cannot remember the exact wording, label the record as your recollection rather than reconstructing a quotation. Facts that support later advice are more useful than a guess about the interviewer’s motive.

Clarify the job-related requirement

If you are unsure why a question was asked, you can ask the interviewer which specific duty or schedule they need to confirm, and whether you can answer in terms of your ability to meet that requirement. For example, if asked about family plans, you might say, "I can confirm that I am available to work the required shifts. Can you tell me what the essential attendance requirements are?" This keeps the focus on your qualifications. If the employer provides a form or written instructions, keep a copy for your records. Do not share another applicant's personal responses. A factual record of the question and your response will help you get accurate advice later.

If you are concerned about the hiring decision

If you believe the question or the decision was discriminatory, save the result and any stated reasons. Seek advice from an Ontario-specific human rights lawyer or community legal clinic promptly, because there are deadlines for filing a human rights application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Ask about the correct application process and the time limit. While you pursue this, continue applying for other jobs. This guide does not guarantee that you will receive compensation or prove that the employer's motive was discriminatory. It also does not extend Ontario's rules to an interview governed by another province's law.

Hypothetical illustration

Hypothetical illustration: an interviewer asks whether an applicant has young children, then mentions short-notice travel. The applicant can ask which duty or travel arrangement needs confirmation and answer in terms of availability. Afterwards, the applicant records the wording, their response, the advertised requirement and any decision with reasons. Those facts help assess whether the exchange concerned qualifications, accommodation or a protected characteristic; the example does not decide discrimination or assume a legal exception applies.

Questions to ask a specialist

If you seek legal advice, bring your written record and ask: "Does this question, in this context, raise an inference of discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code?" "What is the deadline for filing an application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario?" "What evidence do I need to show that the question was a factor in the decision?" A lawyer can also explain whether any Code exception applies, such as a special program or a bona fide occupational requirement. Be ready to share the job description, your application, and any correspondence about the decision.

Next steps if unresolved

If the concern remains, organise the advert, application, interview record and result chronologically. Ask an Ontario-specific adviser which facts are needed to assess the question and decision, and check the applicable individual application process and deadline promptly. You do not have to prove the interviewer’s private thoughts before asking for advice. Keep uncertainty clear and avoid publishing another applicant’s personal response.

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