An Aussie jobseeker has hit out against an employer after she was hit with an "inappropriate" question. Sasha applied for a role at a small business recently, and she was asked to fill out a questionnaire that touched on basic aspects of her life.

However, nothing could have prepared her for the part that asked whether she was in a relationship or not. The millennial worker told Yahoo Finance it was the "mother of all red flags".

"I immediately thought that it was inappropriate and illegal. I knew in that moment I would not be proceeding with the questionnaire as it told me all I needed to know about the employer," she said.

RELATED

• Aussie boss reveals major interview mistake job seekers are making: ‘Desperate’

• Rare $2 coloured coins worth up to $500: ‘Go the distance’

• Centrelink warning over $1,321 cash boost now available for thousands: 'Can add up'

The employer gave several options for jobseekers to explain what their relationship status was, including being married, single, married with children, and even "I don't know what I'm in, I'm confused".

Unimpressed and frustrated by the line of questioning, Sasha sent the CEO an email explaining why she refused to answer this specific question.

But his reply made her even more confused.

Do you have a wild work-related story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com

The head of the business said that it's important for him to know what kind of "mental stability" a potential employee has when they're joining the team.

"Knowing their ability to manage relationship [sic] shows a lot for myself," he wrote.

"I'll consider this kind of connection of knowledge a deal breaker for you?"

Sasha told Yahoo Finance that even though she didn't want the job, his message to her was the icing on the cake.

"I was shocked at his response - this individual clearly has no boundaries," she said.

"I didn’t even reply as I felt that if an employer doesn’t know the first thing about basic employment rights, then he doesn’t deserve any further reply."

She cautioned others if they're met with a similar question to run for the hills as it could show the employer is keen to know other unnecessary details about your life that don't relate to how well they could do the job.

Is asking about your personal life legal?

There is a very well-defined list of questions that are off-limits for employers when they're interviewing a candidate for a role.

While it might sound innocent on the surface, the answers can open the door for discrimination and that's why they are banned.