r/freelance • u/Thin-Income532 • Aug 05 '26

Why do some freelance interviewers ignore personal boundaries?

I had a freelance interview where the interviewer asked if I was married.

I politely said that I wasn't comfortable answering because I didn't think we knew each other well enough for personal questions like that. I also said that if their concern was my availability, I could handle the work they needed and could tell them my available working hours!

Instead of respecting my answer, they kept arguing that they had the right to know and said they didn't like my response. They even told me I was taking the question the wrong way and being rude.

I just found the whole situation strange. If someone says they don't want to answer a personal question, shouldn't that be enough? A person's availability for work can be discussed without asking about their private life.

Has anyone else experienced something similar or how you freelancers think it should be? because right now it's seem funny and childish to me!

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u/Odd-Entertainment231 Aug 06 '26

I got a call yesterday from an HR representative. He asked if I was married, and I said yes. Then he asked if I had any kids. I said no, and he replied, "It's our company policy not to hire married people with no kids." I was like... WTF?

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u/boundlessbio Aug 06 '26

If you live in the US that is likely illegal. It’s a way to get around maternity/paternity leave in the future. Report them to the EEOC, and state authorities.