Questions an employer cannot ask of you

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: joshsquall
I think employers should be able to ask whatever they want and hire whoever they want, based on those answers. If you don't fit the position, you don't get hired.

partly agree.

problem is it is against the law to discrimanate. so you can not ask questions regarding anything like that.

The interview process is discriminatory, with or without these questions. You choose one applicant over all of the others based on qualities that they have (or that the other applicants didn't have). Honestly, if you're applying to a place with prejudiced people doing the hiring, do you want the job? You're not going to be happy in the long run, if the people aren't nice to you or give you all of the sh!t work. May as well get it all on the table from the get go.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: joshsquall
I think employers should be able to ask whatever they want and hire whoever they want, based on those answers. If you don't fit the position, you don't get hired.

Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior, and have you been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?

Would you like to be denied employment because you answered no to that question?

See my previous response. Getting hired is only the beginning. If the people at the company are like that, do you really want to work there after being hired?

 

[DrPizza]

Even though they're not supposed to ask those questions, you should still be prepared to respond to them. On occasion, some of them are still asked, or they beat around the bush to find the same information. If they're attempting to pry into your family life, simply respond, "I assume you're worried about my dedication to the job since I just started a new family. I can assure you that..."

Hopefully, you don't stand up in the middle of the interview, point your finger at the interviewer and say, "I'm telling! You're not supposed to ask that!"

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
? Sex or marital status

? Height or weight, unless you can show that information is justified by business necessity

Well, I'd hope that MOST people can guess your sex and height just by looking at you. And at least get a rough estimate of weight.

 

[Mentat]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Hopefully, you don't stand up in the middle of the interview, point your finger at the interviewer and say, "I'm telling! You're not supposed to ask that!"

DrPizza, that's exactly what you do! Then you take your thumbs, stick them in your ear, wave them back and fourth, and stick out your tongue at them. Follow that up with "nener nener nener, better hire me or else I'm telling the government on you!!!"

ANNNNND you're hired!!! :thumbsup:

 

[erub]

Regarding 'Religious affiliations' what about a religious organization? Say the local xyz group is looking for a new leader for their youth program, they would want someone who has been thru a xyz youth program, which would effectively limit applicants to members of xyz religion..or would that fall under necessary qualifications, and not religion?

 

[borosp1]

Also they cannot ask any questions about health.. This could imply discrimination as well. I.E. if your a smoker..

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: erub
Regarding 'Religious affiliations' what about a religious organization? Say the local xyz group is looking for a new leader for their youth program, they would want someone who has been thru a xyz youth program, which would effectively limit applicants to members of xyz religion..or would that fall under necessary qualifications, and not religion?

Is it really likely that a person would seek a position working for a religious organization that they have no affiliation with?

Ideally, should the scenerio arise, if it's a pre-requisite that a person went through the youth program, then a person would at least have to be comfortable with the organization enough to complete the youth program.

But again, if it's directly related to the job, then it changes things.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: borosp1
Also they cannot ask any questions about health.. This could imply discrimination as well. I.E. if your a smoker..

Not true.

There have been issues in the past years where companies have fired all smokers unless they quit and it was perfectly legal, why would it be any different if they used that as criteria for hiring?

I recall a friend that worked in some sort of mental health and rehab clinic that had to quit to get the job.

 

[HomeAppraiser]

What about a job announcement that states "May be required to use your personal car for company business."?

Twelve field agents and ten company cars so if everybody has to go out the newest hires take their own vehicles.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/...k_a_job_applicant_these_questions.mspx

"Matthew R. Grabell, an employment attorney with Grabell & Associates in Hackensack, N.J., says that the list of things you cannot ask potential employees about includes:

? Private organizations he or she belongs to

? Religious affiliations

? Date of birth (except when that information is required for satisfying minimum age requirements)

? Lineage, ancestry, national origin, descent, parentage, or nationality

? Names and addresses of relatives other than a spouse and dependent children

? Sex or marital status

? Height or weight, unless you can show that information is justified by business necessity

? Physical or mental disabilities


None of these questions addresses the skills needed to perform a job. "However, it is permissible to ask if the applicant has any disabilities that would prevent him or her from satisfactorily performing the job," Grabell says."

Sex?
Why would they even have to ask?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: BoomerD
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/...k_a_job_applicant_these_questions.mspx

"Matthew R. Grabell, an employment attorney with Grabell & Associates in Hackensack, N.J., says that the list of things you cannot ask potential employees about includes:

? Private organizations he or she belongs to

? Religious affiliations

? Date of birth (except when that information is required for satisfying minimum age requirements)

? Lineage, ancestry, national origin, descent, parentage, or nationality

? Names and addresses of relatives other than a spouse and dependent children

? Sex or marital status

? Height or weight, unless you can show that information is justified by business necessity

? Physical or mental disabilities


None of these questions addresses the skills needed to perform a job. "However, it is permissible to ask if the applicant has any disabilities that would prevent him or her from satisfactorily performing the job," Grabell says."

Sex?
Why would they even have to ask?

-Sometimes people get asked questions on the phone even before an interview.
-Sometimes you can't tell....
-Sometimes someone had "the operation" or are cross-dressers and don't like discussing those sorts of things.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Pretty sure companies can ask you if you have a car. Maybe it termed "reliable mode of transportation" but in my fiance's case, her company requires employees to have their owns cars so they can go out and make field calls, as there's only one company car for her whole district. Maybe the word like "reliable transportation to be used during the job" or something like that.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: BoomerD
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/...k_a_job_applicant_these_questions.mspx

"Matthew R. Grabell, an employment attorney with Grabell & Associates in Hackensack, N.J., says that the list of things you cannot ask potential employees about includes:

? Private organizations he or she belongs to

? Religious affiliations

? Date of birth (except when that information is required for satisfying minimum age requirements)

? Lineage, ancestry, national origin, descent, parentage, or nationality

? Names and addresses of relatives other than a spouse and dependent children

? Sex or marital status

? Height or weight, unless you can show that information is justified by business necessity

? Physical or mental disabilities


None of these questions addresses the skills needed to perform a job. "However, it is permissible to ask if the applicant has any disabilities that would prevent him or her from satisfactorily performing the job," Grabell says."

Sex?
Why would they even have to ask?

-Sometimes people get asked questions on the phone even before an interview.
-Sometimes you can't tell....
-Sometimes someone had "the operation" or are cross-dressers and don't like discussing those sorts of things.

Did something happen to you in a club?

 

[HomeAppraiser]

Tech support will be there as soon as he/she catches the cross town bus.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: borosp1
Also they cannot ask any questions about health.. This could imply discrimination as well. I.E. if your a smoker..

By the same token, however, the job requirements can be of a physical nature, such as the ability to life a 50lb. box, or climb up a ladder, etc. And during the interview process, these requirements can be openly discussed.

 

[BlancoNino]

For the record, an employer should be able to ask you whatever the heck they want...it's their damn business.

My boss asked me if I had a car...would really suck hiring a pizza delivery guy and finding out he has to walk his deliveries or take the bus.

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: JEDI
How old are you?
Do you have any children?
What religion are you?
What is your sexual orientation?
Do you have a car? <------- WTFBBQ?!

First 4 I can see not being asked, but asking if you have a car? Isn't that needed for some jobs?