What Can I Ask: an Inquiry Guide
Any inquiry should be avoided that, although not specifically listed, is designed to elicit information as to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, religious, handicap, or arrest and court record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification.
| Subject | Acceptable Inquiries | Unacceptable Inquiries |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Whether the applicant has worked for the University under another name. Whether any other information such as a nickname is needed to check the candidate's work and educational record. | Inquiries about the name that would seek to elicit information about the candidate's ancestry or descent. Inquiries about name change due to a court order, marriage, or otherwise. |
| Birthplace | See Citizenship, under Acceptable Inquiries, below. | Birthplace of applicant, spouse, parents, or other relatives. |
| Citizenship | Statement that employee must be eligible to work in the U.S. when he or she begins work. | Any inquiries about citizenship or whether applicant is or intends to become a U.S. citizen. |
| Residence, Nationality | Place of residence. Length of residence in this city. | Specific inquiry into foreign addresses that would indicate national origin, nationality of applicant, applicant's parents, or spouse. Whether applicant owns or rents home. |
| Age | Can inquire if applicant meets minimum age requirements, or state that proof may be required upon hiring, or that hire is subject to verification of minimum age. | Cannot require that applicant state age or date of birth. Cannot require that applicant submit proof of age before hiring. Any questions that may tend to identify applicants over 40 years of age. |
| Sex | Inquiry or restriction of employment is permissible only when a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) exists. BFOQ is very narrowly interpreted by the courts, and is rarely allowed, with the burden of proof for BFOQ resting on the employer. | Any inquiry that would indicate sex of applicant. (Sex is not a BFOQ because a job involves physical labor, such as heavy lifting beyond capacity of some women.) Applicant's sex cannot be used as a factor for determining whether an applicant will be "satisfied" in a particular job. |
| Marital and family status, sexual identity | Whether applicant can meet specific work schedules. | Marital status or number of dependents. Names, ages or addresses of spouse, children, or relatives. Questions about sexual identity, orientation, or preference. |
| Race, color, physical characteristics | Given this information is captured in PeopleAdmin, there is no need to inquire upon. | Inquiry as to applicant's race, color of skin, eyes, or hair, or other questions directly or indirectly indicating race or color. Applicant's height or weight when it is not relevant to the job. |
| Disabilities | Can ask an applicant questions about his or her ability to perform job-related functions, as long as the questions are not phrased in terms which would seek to elicit whether the applicant has a disability. | General inquiries ("Are you disabled?") that would tend to reveal disabilities or health conditions that do not relate to fitness to perform the job. Applicant's height or weight when it is not relevant to the job. It is unlawful to ask an applicant whether he or she is disabled or about the nature or severity of his or her disability. |
| Education | Applicant's academic, vocational, or professional education; schools attended. | Date last attended high school (reflects age of applicant). Inquiry as to religious or racial affiliation of school. |
| Work experience, military experience | Applicant's work experience, including names, addresses of previous employers, dates of employment, reasons for leaving. | Type of military discharge. |
| Conviction, arrest, and court record. | Inquiry into actual convictions (not arrests) that relate reasonably to fitness to perform a particular job. | Any inquiry relating to arrests. Any inquiry or check into a person's arrest, court, or conviction record if not substantially related to functions and responsibilities of the prospective employment. |
| Photograph | Statement that it may be required after hiring. | Request for photograph before hiring. |
| Religion | Whether applicant can meet specific work schedule(s). |
Applicant's religious denomination or affiliation, parish, religious leader, or religious holidays observed. Any inquiry made to identify religious denominations or customs. |
**Adapted from the Human Resources Department's Inquiry Guide