Supervisors and Employees

What a Supervisor Can Ask During a Job Interview:

  • Questions about qualifications: Supervisors can ask about an applicant’s education, work experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the job.
  • Availability: It is acceptable to inquire about an applicant’s availability to work, including work hours, days, and start date.
  • Work-related skills and abilities: Questions about an applicant’s ability to perform job-related tasks and responsibilities are allowed.
  • Work history: Supervisors can ask about an applicant’s work history, including previous employers, job titles, and dates of employment.
  • References: Inquiring about professional references and contact information for former employers is permissible.

What a Supervisor Cannot Ask During a Job Interview:

  • Age: It is illegal to ask an applicant’s age or date of birth, as it can lead to age discrimination claims.
  • Marital or Family Status: Questions about marital status, family, or pregnancy plans are prohibited to avoid potential gender or family status discrimination.
  • Gender or Sexual Orientation: Supervisors cannot ask about an applicant’s gender identity or sexual orientation, as this can lead to discrimination based on sex or gender identity.
  • Race or Ethnicity: Questions related to an applicant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin are not allowed to prevent racial or ethnic discrimination.
  • Religion: Inquiries about an applicant’s religion, religious practices, or beliefs should be avoided to prevent religious discrimination.
  • Disabilities: It is illegal to ask about an applicant’s disabilities or medical conditions during an interview. Questions about an applicant’s ability to perform job duties are permissible.
  • Citizenship Status: Avoid asking about an applicant’s citizenship status, as it can lead to discrimination based on national origin. Instead, ask about their eligibility to work in the country.
  • Arrest Records: Questions about an applicant’s arrest record should be avoided, but inquiries about convictions related to the job may be permitted in some cases.
  • Military Service: While it’s acceptable to ask about an applicant’s relevant military experience, avoid questions about their discharge status or any disabilities resulting from military service.
  • Social Media Passwords: It is not appropriate to request an applicant’s social media passwords or access to their private online accounts.
  • Any Other Protected Characteristics: Avoid questions related to any protected characteristics, such as sexual harassment prevention, national origin, color, genetic information, or any other factor protected by federal or state law.

Supervisors should focus their interview questions on job-related qualifications, skills, and experiences, while refraining from asking about personal or protected characteristics that could lead to discrimination claims. It’s essential to adhere to anti-discrimination laws to ensure a fair and inclusive hiring process.

*****To ensure you get the most out of this training and meet the course requirements, please note that it is necessary to watch the entire video of each lesson before proceeding to the next one.*****