What questions are illegal in an EEOC interview?

Asked by: Dr. Wilber Kutch IV  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 5/5 (30 votes)

EEOC Guide To Illegal Interview Questions: What You Can't Ask
  • Race. Example: What Is Your Race? or What Nationality Are You? ...
  • Height & Weight. ...
  • Financial Information. ...
  • Religious Affiliation Or Beliefs. ...
  • Citizenship. ...
  • Marital Status or Number Of Children. ...
  • Disability and Medical Conditions. ...
  • NYC Only: Salary History.

What questions are you not allowed to ask in an interview?

Illegal Interview Questions
  • Age or genetic information.
  • Birthplace, country of origin or citizenship.
  • Disability.
  • Gender, sex or sexual orientation.
  • Marital status, family, or pregnancy.
  • Race, color, or ethnicity.
  • Religion.

What is legal and illegal to ask in an interview?

Do you own your own home? An interviewer should not ask if the applicant owns or rents a home or car, or if wages have been previously garnished, or if the applicant has ever declared bankruptcy, unless financial considerations exist for the job in question.

What you Cannot ask on an employment application?

Make the Most of Your Job Application

Questions should focus on job-related issues and protect the privacy and employment rights of all applicants. It's illegal to ask about certain characteristics protected by law such as gender, age, race, religion, national origin, disability or marital status.

What questions can you legally ask in an interview?

These may include the following questions:
  • What is your age or date of birth?
  • What is your sexual orientation?
  • What church do you attend?
  • What is your national origin?
  • What is your maiden name?
  • What is your marital status?
  • Are you widowed, divorced, or separated?
  • What is or was your spouse's name and/or job?

Illegal Interview Questions: What You Can't Ask (EEOC)

38 related questions found

What are the 5 illegal job interview questions?

5 Illegal Interview Questions You Should Never Answer (and What to Do When Facing Them)
  • "Where are you from originally?" ...
  • "Do you go to church?" ...
  • "When did you graduate from high school (or college)?" ...
  • "Are you married?" ...
  • "How would you handle managing a team of all men?"

How do you answer illegal interview questions?

How do I respond?
  1. Gracefully avoid the question and steer the conversation elsewhere.
  2. Keep your answers short, broad and general.
  3. Redirect a question to your interviewer.
  4. Ask the interviewer why the question is relevant to your job.

What are you not allowed to discriminate against?

Under the laws enforced by EEOC, it is illegal to discriminate against someone (applicant or employee) because of that person's race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

What employers can and Cannot ask?

The Alberta Human Rights Act makes it illegal to discriminate against people or treat them unfairly because of their:
  • Race.
  • Religious beliefs.
  • Colour.
  • Gender (including pregnancy and sexual harassment)
  • Gender expression.
  • Gender identity.
  • Physical disability.
  • Mental disability.

Which ones of these questions would be illegal for an employer to make hiring decisions on the basis of?

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits discrimination against job applicants and employees on the basis of:
  • Age.
  • Race.
  • Color.
  • Religion.
  • Marital status and questions related to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions)
  • Gender (including gender identity and gender expression)

What are the 3 best questions to ask in an interview?

Top 3 Questions You Should Ask in Every Job Interview
  • Is this a new role or has this role existed previously with your company? ...
  • Who are the main people and groups I'd be collaborating with? ...
  • What are some of the paths you see in your company for the person who holds this position?

What you should not do during interview?

15 Things You Should NOT Do at an Interview
  • Not Doing Your Research. ...
  • Turning Up Late. ...
  • Dressing Inappropriately. ...
  • Fidgeting With Unnecessary Props. ...
  • Poor Body Language. ...
  • Unclear Answering and Rambling. ...
  • Speaking Negatively About Your Current Employer. ...
  • Not Asking Questions.

Why are some interview questions illegal?

Illegal job interview questions solicit information from job candidates that could be used to discriminate against them. Asking questions about a candidate's age, race, religion, or gender could open a company up to a discrimination lawsuit.

What are unethical questions?

11 Unethical Interview Questions You Don't Need to Answer
  • “What does your husband/wife do?” ...
  • “Are you pregnant?” ...
  • “Do you have a disability that might interfere with your job performance?” ...
  • “Have you ever been arrested?” ...
  • “What year did you graduate?” ...
  • “Are you in a union?” ...
  • “Would you take a genetic test?”

What is a Hipaa violation in workplace?

A HIPAA violation in the workplace refers to a situation where an employee's health information has fallen into the wrong hands, whether willfully or inadvertently, without his consent. ... Think of the health-related treatments they're receiving, current health plans, or health insurance coverage.

Can employers ask why you are calling out?

No federal law prohibits employers from asking employees why they are out sick. They are free to ask questions such as when you expect to return to work. They may also require you to furnish proof of your illness, such as a note from a physician.

How do you tell if your boss is discriminating against you?

The Many Employment Discrimination Laws Employers Violate.
...
However, here are some clues that you are being illegally discriminated against:
  • Inappropriate joking. ...
  • Minimal diversity. ...
  • Role ruts. ...
  • Promotion pass–over. ...
  • Poor reviews. ...
  • Questionable interview questions.

What are the three criteria that workplace harassment must meet to be considered illegal?

Harassment becomes unlawful where 1) enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment, or 2) the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.

What are the 4 types of discrimination?

The 4 types of Discrimination
  • Direct discrimination.
  • Indirect discrimination.
  • Harassment.
  • Victimisation.

Can I sue for illegal interview questions?

There are no questions that are per se illegal. ... While you can't sue just because you were asked a question, being asked an inappropriate question could be evidence of discrimination if you aren't hired. Questions that are inappropriate are those that relate to legally-protected categories under the law.

What is the most effective way to handle an illegal or inappropriate question during an interview?

What is the most effective way to handle an illegal or inappropriate question during an interview? Refuse to answer the question because it is your legal right to do so. If you find the question harmless and if you want the job, go ahead and answer it.

What is an inappropriate question?

Inappropriate interview questions are questions about things that could be used to discriminate against you. Discrimination is when someone treats you unfairly because of things like your personal life, your physical features, sexuality, ethnicity or gender identity. You don't have to answer inappropriate questions.

What is the best question to ask to interviewer?

Here are top questions you should absolutely ask an interviewer:
  • What's the next step in the interview/hiring process?
  • How long does your recruitment process usually take?
  • What are the primary responsibilities of the position?
  • What would my day-to-day routine look like if I got the job?

What are 5 things you should do during an interview?

10 Things to do RIGHT in an interview
  • 1) Dressing the Part. ...
  • 2) Review the Questions The Interviewers Will Ask You. ...
  • 3) Do Enough Research on the Company. ...
  • 4) Be Respectful of the Interviewers. ...
  • 5) Good Non-Verbal Behavior.
  • 6) Be On Time to the Interview. ...
  • 7) Know all the Credentials of the Company and the Job you're Applying For.

What should you say at the end of an interview?

Here are some common conclusions:
  • "I am grateful for interviewing with you today. You have given me a clear overview of the position. ...
  • "Thank you for making time to interview me for the open role. I am thrilled about the prospect of working in this position and being a part of a highly reputable team."