Surprising Job Interview Questions That Are Against the Law

[:eek:]

Most job candidates prepare themselves for any and all potential interview questions. But not all questions are fair game. In fact, a lot of them can get the hiring company in a lot of trouble.
According to online legal service, Rocket Lawyer, what's legal and what's not may not be as obvious as it seems. Here is a list of questions that are not allowed to be asked in your next job interview.
1. Where’s your accent from?
2. Can we take your picture to include with your application?
3. Do you prefer Ms., Mrs. or Miss?
4. Are you married? What does your husband do?
5. How tall are you?
6. Are you Muslim? How often do you pray during business hours?
7. How many kids do you have? How old are they? Do you plan to have more children?
8. Do you think our receptionist is attractive?
9. Do you make a habit of accusing employers of sexual assault/discrimination?
10. You smell like alcohol, have you been drinking?
11. Are you religious?
12. Have you ever been arrested?
13. Have you ever received workers' compensation?
14. Where do you go to church?
This story was provided by BusinessNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I think it's dumb that a lot of those are illegal, many of those could be just casual conversation (if an interview goes well, often times an interviewer will try to talk to you casually)

 

[Lighthouse]

I think it's dumb that a lot of those are illegal, many of those could be just casual conversation (if an interview goes well, often times an interviewer will try to talk to you casually)

There should be no "casual" conversation on those topics until he/she is hired.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I don't see a problem with 1 or 3, even 11 and 14 I think can be innocent.

 

[lordofthenerds]

"8. Do you think our receptionist is attractive?"

 

[Lighthouse]

I don't see a problem with 1 or 3, even 11 and 14 I think can be innocent.

Not when your respone is "I'm an atheist," which is how I would respond if answering truthfully.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

My response is that I don't go to church... because I don't.

But depending on the context, I wouldn't necessarily be offended to be asked the question.

 

[CConn]

While you can't ask if they've ever been arrested, you obviously can ask if they've ever been convicted of a felony. So it's pretty much the same difference anyway.

 

[POWdER-man]

The reason it is illegal is so that an employer can't outright discriminate you based on age, religion, race, sexual preference, marriage status, if you have dependents, etc. I can guarantee some employers will discriminate against employees if they knew these answers.

Not to mention the remaining questions would help them eliminate you completely based on how difficult of an employee you will be at no fault on your own. ie How old are your children? If they have young children the employer would have to worry that they would have to take an increased amount of time off due to their children.

By making it illegal, it just keeps them from not hiring candidates who are otherwise qualified for the position.

 

[enterthemadness]

Kinda on topic, I swear there's a woman from Eastern Europe, perhaps Romania that works at Wal-Mart in town. Cute.

 

[The_Shadow]

Is 5 really illegal lol?

 

[Lasirius]

Asking someone's age is also illegal.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Kinda on topic, I swear there's a woman from Eastern Europe, perhaps Romania that works at Wal-Mart in town. Cute.

That's not on topic at all.

 

[EML420]

If they were you asking these questions and you said that illegal im not going to answer I think you would loose your shot at the job.

 

[Shemtov]

If they were you asking these questions and you said that illegal im not going to answer I think you would loose your shot at the job.

if i told you you're grammar messed up i think youd be up set.

 

[Majik1387]

Are these real?

I've seen many applications that ask numbers 3, 4(first part) and 12 upfront.

Also, for entertainment roles, numbers 2 and 5 are part of every application/interview.

 

[terry78]

If the place is like some small time operation, they'll ask whatever the **** they want, illegality be damned.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I can see why a lot of those are illegal. But I does make me wonder what the hell they ask.

 

[SuperFerret]

Not when your respone is "I'm an atheist," which is how I would respond if answering truthfully.

Are you saying that there's something about being atheist that's not innocent? What are you trying to hide!? HEATHEN!! YOU'LL BURN IN THE PIT FOR ETERNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Or, as a reasonable person would respond, "Okay."

 

[Thundercrack85]

Yeah, it's not hard to see why religious questions aren't permitted. Talk about discrimination.

 

[Ultimatehero]

The reason it is illegal is so that an employer can't outright discriminate you based on age, religion, race, sexual preference, marriage status,

What struck me is there were no questions listed there about sexual orientation. Does that mean it is legal for them to inquire about it in some under-handed way? Receptionist seems like it could change depending on the situation, unless she was a model lol. And yeah # 12 is everywhere.

 

[Thundercrack85]

That would presumably be covered under sexual preference. I recall reading sex is off limits. Or maybe that's just common sense, with all the law suits.

 

[Mace Bloodstone]

"9. Do you make a habit of accusing employers of sexual assault/discrimination?"

i think it would fall under that.

 

[Darthphere]

I think it's dumb that a lot of those are illegal, many of those could be just casual conversation (if an interview goes well, often times an interviewer will try to talk to you casually)

Yeah casual conversation.

"Hey did you watch the basketball match last night. Great action on the field."

"Yeah. Are you Muslim? How often do you pray during business hours?"

"Go team?"

 

[Spider-Who?]

I kinda think the prayer question is a valid question. As an employer I'd want to know if and how a religious persons practices would affect the work day. It's not an attempt to discriminate at all, and I'm not saying that it would be disruptive, but I think any employer would want to know for logistical reasons.