FUNDAMENTAL DO'S AND DON'T'S OF THE HIRING PHASE

The hiring phase is complicated. Here are some of the basics of what may and may not be asked about and required during the hiring process.

Race, Sex, Age, Disability

Inquiries about race, gender, birthplace, religion, marital status and disability are prohibited with these exceptions. It is all right to identify the essential functions of the job and ask how the applicant would perform them, and also to ask whether the spouse of the applicant is an employee of the employer.

It is permissible to ask for the full name of the applicant and whether he or she has ever worked for the company under a different name, but impermssible to ask for a maiden name.

The applicant may be asked how long he or she has lived in the state or the city but not whether he/she owns or rents. The only question that can be asked about age is whether the applicant is at least 18 years old, and then only to determine whether the applicant is of legal age for employment.