How is this question related to job performance?
presents appropriate questions to ask in an interview. The basic rule of thumb for interviewing is when you are in doubt about a question’s legality, ask, How is this question related to job performance? If it can be proved that only job-related questions are asked, EEO law will not be violated.
The Age Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination against applicants and employees over the age of 40. Questions in recruitment and selection that are appropriate with respect to age are also presented in Table 15-3.
TABLE 15-3 Preemployment Questions
Appropriate to Ask Inappropriate to Ask
Name Applicant’s name. Whether applicant has school or work records under a different name.
Questions about any name or title that indicate race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or ancestry.
Questions about father’s surname or mother’s maiden name.
Address Questions concerning place and length of current and previous addresses.
Any specific probes into foreign addresses that would indicate national origin.
Age Requiring proof of age by birth certificate after hiring. Can ask if applicant is over 18.
Requiring birth certificate or baptismal record before hiring.
Birthplace or national origin
Any question about place of birth of applicant or place of birth of parents, grandparents, or spouse.
Any other question (direct or indirect) about applicant’s national origin.
Race or color Can request after employment as affirmative action data.
Any inquiry that would indicate race or color.
Sex Any question on an application blank that would indicate sex.
Religion Any questions to indicate applicant’s religious denomination or beliefs.
A recommendation or reference from the applicant’s religious denomination.
Citizenship Questions about whether the applicant is a U.S. citizen; if not, whether the applicant intends to become one.
Questions of whether the applicant, parents, or spouse are native born or naturalized.
Questions regarding whether applicant’s U.S. residence is legal; requiring proof of citizenship after hiring.