3 ms·

Can you please write what's related to my case in plain easy English? Execuse me :)

by evex 8y ago

qbrass 8y ago
If they ask, then don't hire you, you have a case against them for discrimination.
geofft 8y ago
It is not literally illegal to ask, but if they decide not to hire someone after asking the question (or possibly, if they ask some people interviewing for the job, and then decide not to hire someone they didn't ask), it is absurdly easy for the person who wasn't hired to pursue a discrimination claim. Therefore, most HR departments simply tell you that it's illegal (or prohibited, more precisely). There's a huge amount of legal risk to the company, in asking, and no benefit because it is illegal to actually take the answer into account. Personally, I would probably answer truthfully in the interview, and then politely tell the recruiter / hiring manager next time I spoke to them, "Thanks, I enjoyed speaking with <person> about the company! By the way, they asked me about my age (or whether I was married, or whatever), and I just wanted to confirm that this information will not be used in a hiring decision. We were making small talk and I didn't mind answering, but I don't think it's relevant to what I can bring to the company." If the recruiter or hiring manager is in the least bit competent, they will immediately panic, and probably end up finding a way for that person to have no role in making your hiring decision, or something. (This only applies for hiring in the US, if this is in another company things may be totally different)
- evex 8y ago
  Great, I can use your advice in my next interview, thanks!
  - geofft 8y ago
    You may want to note bendmorris's correction elsewhere in the thread, that age discrimination is only for people age 40 and up. It's still awful for the company to be asking "You look young!", because that might imply they see being young as desirable, but you might not be able to push back very hard if the recruiter doesn't panic.

Can you please write what's related to my case in plain easy English? Execuse me :)

by evex 8y ago

Can you please write what's related to my case in plain easy English? Execuse me :)

qbrass 8y ago

If they ask, then don't hire you, you have a case against them for discrimination.

geofft 8y ago

It is not literally illegal to ask, but if they decide not to hire someone after asking the question (or possibly, if they ask some people interviewing for the job, and then decide not to hire someone they didn't ask), it is absurdly easy for the person who wasn't hired to pursue a discrimination claim. Therefore, most HR departments simply tell you that it's illegal (or prohibited, more precisely). There's a huge amount of legal risk to the company, in asking, and no benefit because it is illegal to actually take the answer into account. Personally, I would probably answer truthfully in the interview, and then politely tell the recruiter / hiring manager next time I spoke to them, "Thanks, I enjoyed speaking with <person> about the company! By the way, they asked me about my age (or whether I was married, or whatever), and I just wanted to confirm that this information will not be used in a hiring decision. We were making small talk and I didn't mind answering, but I don't think it's relevant to what I can bring to the company." If the recruiter or hiring manager is in the least bit competent, they will immediately panic, and probably end up finding a way for that person to have no role in making your hiring decision, or something. (This only applies for hiring in the US, if this is in another company things may be totally different)

evex 8y ago
Great, I can use your advice in my next interview, thanks!
- geofft 8y ago
  You may want to note bendmorris's correction elsewhere in the thread, that age discrimination is only for people age 40 and up. It's still awful for the company to be asking "You look young!", because that might imply they see being young as desirable, but you might not be able to push back very hard if the recruiter doesn't panic.