It takes a lot of guts to tell HR departments, publicly, how to get around illegal questions about age, religion and other issues. But, don't worry, HR World is surprisingly bold.
Protect yourself and your company from legal trouble and embarrassment by avoiding the wrong questions while still getting to the root of the concern behind the question.Read on for 30 ways to turn litigious questions into harmless, legal alternatives.
What you can't ask:
01. Are you a U.S. citizen?
02. What is your native tongue?
03. How long have you lived here?
04. What religion do you practice?
05. Which religious holidays do you observe?
06. Do you belong to a club or social organization?
07. How old are you?
08. How much longer do you plan to work before you retire?
09. Is this your maiden name?
10. Do you have or plan to have children?
11. Can you get a babysitter on short notice for overtime or travel?
12. Do you have kids?
13. Who is your closest relative to notify in case of an emergency?
14. What you can't ask: What do your parents do for a living?
15. If you get pregnant, will you continue to work, and will you come back after maternity leave?
16. We've always had a man/woman do this job. How do you think you will stack up?
17. How do you feel about supervising men/women?
18. What do you think of interoffice dating?
19. Do you smoke or drink?
20. Do you take drugs?
21. How tall are you?
22. How much do you weigh?
23. How many sick days did you take last year?
24. Do you have any disabilities?
25. Have you had any recent or past illnesses or operations?
26. How far is your commute?
27. Do you live nearby?
28. Have you ever been arrested?
29. Were you honorably discharged from the military?
30. Are you a member of the National Guard or Reserves?