IANAL, but I think it's flat-out illegal in the US, not just harmful. (And if it's not illegal, it should be.) From https://www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-

IANAL, but I think it's flat-out illegal in the US, not just harmful. (And if it's not illegal, it should be.) From https://www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-policiespractices https://www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-policiespractices: > An employer may not base hiring decisions on stereotypes and assumptions about a person's race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.