Some interview questions are illegal in many countries, such as those related to age, race, religion, and marital status. However, laws vary by territory and nation. If a person suspects discrimination during a job interview, they can consider taking legal action or seeking legal advice.
There are many interview questions that are illegal in many countries. Some illegal interview questions may pertain to the candidate’s age. Illegal interview questions can also include those related to a person’s race or religion.
Note, however, that if an interview question is considered illegal in one country, this does not necessarily mean that it is illegal in all countries. Interview laws vary by territory and nation. With that in mind, some broad areas of questioning are typically illegal in most places.
Most of the questions a candidate will face are perfectly legal. In some cases, however, a question may arise that has legal implications. Illegal interview questions a person should be aware of could be something like “Do you consider yourself of legal age?” Inquiring about a candidate’s age is one of the illegal interview questions in many areas, even if asked indirectly.
If the interviewer asks, “Do you belong to an organized religion?” this is also considered illegal in some countries. This can be a discriminatory issue if it doesn’t belong to the line of work the person is applying for. For example, if a person is being interviewed for a job as a cook in a restaurant, asking about their religion is normally considered illegal.
Suggestive, personal queries with no direct work correlation would normally be considered illegal interview questions. An example might be, “Are you married, single, or divorced?” In most cases, marital status should be unrelated to the hiring and therefore has no place in a job interview. Likewise, questions like “How many children do you have?” and “How old are your children?” would also be considered illegal interviewing issues in most cases.
Asking questions about someone’s sexual orientation is also illegal in many countries. For example, an interview question like “Are you straight?” would be considered illegal or illegal in most hiring situations. Likewise, for questions like “Do you consider yourself bisexual?”
Other examples of illegal interview questions are: “Were you born in the United States?” This is because inquiring about a person’s birthplace is considered illegal in many areas of the world. The same can apply to a question like “Do you have relatives living in another country?”
If a person suspects discrimination during a job interview or wonders what to do if asked an illegal question, there are options to consider. Taking steps such as filing a lawsuit may be considered. Talking with a lawyer can provide you with answers and legal advice. In many cases, free consultation can be obtained.
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