Questions Not to Ask

njjel · March 2005

I used to have a list of questions not to ask during an interview and can't find it now. Do any of you have a list to share? I need to develop one for our managers and don't want to miss anything. thanks.

System · March 2005

I have one. Give me your fax number.
Sam

globex · March 2005

why not post them?

System · March 2005

It's too lengthy - but it might be quicker than faxing.

owenlady · March 2005

Would you mind faxing me a copy as well? 859-335-4106.

Thanks, Carole

Sue2 · March 2005

Please fax to me also.
Thanks
Sue 843 443-8227

CourtHR · March 2005

Can you fax to me also?

Thanks
Lynn
225-389-7656

Gillian3 · March 2005

Another way of dealing with this is to say that anything job-related is legitimate and define what "job-related" means.

Whatever · March 2005

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-14-05 AT 02:29PM (CST)[/font][br][br]So, what are legitimate questions and how would you define "work related" if you were responsible for hiring for Hooters. x;-)

Gillian3 · March 2005

Now that's a question to ponder. Maybe the hires aren't based on questions at all.

Don D · March 2005

Putting the halter on the other hooter, Whatever, how would YOU handle that? And would it be any different if you were hiring for the Chippendale Dancers?

Whatever · March 2005

Don, if I was working for Hooters, I wouldn't handle anything. If I was working for Chippendales, as a responsible individual, I would handle the interviews. :DD

System · March 2005

Whatever, I can assist if you would like one more objective person to assure you recruit the candidate with the most BFOQ. Back to the topic: avoid these questions:

"Is that your natural tan?" (could lead to ethnic origin or race.

"What size shoe do you wear?" (an immutable trait that could be covered under ADA or perhaps indicate a genetic dispositon).

Glad to help!

Sam

C Wilson · March 2005

I would like one too. Fax 828-277-7612

Thanks

System · March 2005

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-15-05 AT 09:19AM (CST)[/font][br][br]The HR Hero Answer Engine in the subscribers area of HRhero.com has these articles (there may be more but I only did a quick search):

[b]Hiring -- Disability etiquette: a primer[/b] (November 2004)
(for disabled applicants)

[b]Guiding you through the hiring process[/b] (November 2003):
Examples of prohibited questions during the [i]preoffer[/i] period include:
Do you have a heart condition? Do you have asthma or any other breathing difficulties?
Do you have a disability that would interfere with your ability to perform the job?
How many days were you sick last year?
Have you ever filed for workers' comp benefits? Have you ever been injured on the job?
Have you ever been treated for mental health problems?
What prescription drugs are you currently taking?

On the flip side of the coin, this was fun to read again:
[url]http://www.hrhero.com/hl/092404.shtml#feature[/url]
(The formatting on the page is wigged out but you should still be able to read the job applicants' answers.)

System · June 2005

Pennsylvania Employment Law Letter and Louisiana Employment Law Letter picked up your question and ran a list of interview questions not to ask in their newsletters. I combined the lists into one article under the Q&A section in HRhero.com:

Interview questions you shouldn't ask
[url]www.HRhero.com/q&a/q&a.shtml[/url]

LivindonSouth · June 2005

Good article. I read the list but disagree with one of the questions listed. "Did you receive a discharge of any type other than honorable?" An employer has a right to know if the veteran received a 'less than honorable' or 'dishonorable' discharge, just as we have a right, in most states, to ask about convictions. No difference. If the suggestion is intended to get around medical discharge, that is an honorable discharge. Can someone steer me to the position the article writer took on this question?

System · June 2005

I asked the attorney who wrote the article for an answer and he sent his answer yesterday afternoon:

"This guidance comes from the Fair Inquiry Guidelines issued by the EEOC.
The EEOC does not provide a basis for its position but I assume it is
concerned about information disclosing a disability or an arrest record."

This is what the Fair Inquiry Guidelines say:

[b]Military [/b]

Unlawful Inquiries: Type or condition of military discharge. Request for discharge papers.

Lawful Inquiries: Inquiries concerning education, training, or work experience in the armed forces of the United States. (Note: in many areas, veterans are a protected class.)

The guidelines are listed several places on the Internet. Here's a link:
[url]www.stat.washington.edu/www/jobs/questions/[/url]

For anyone reading this later, the discussion has been continued in a separate thread on Employers Forum:

[b]"Why not ask?"[/b]
[url]www.hrhero.com/employersforum/DCForumID14/6292.html[/url]

Questions Not to Ask

Comments