Illegal And Sensitive Questions - For Recruiters/employers!!

Hey Guys,
Attached is a document containing questions especially for recruiters and interviewers...these are those which should not be asked to the candidates getting interviewed as they may feel offended by these questions..
Hope next time you take care while taking an interview!!!
Thanks,
Darshan
22nd September 2007 From India, Pune

Attached Files (Download Requires Membership)

illegal_and_sensitive_questions_794.doc (28.0 KB, 705 views)

hELO,
I read your interview questions.
I have some comments to make.
Can you pls emphasise on why should a candidate be not asked abt his family , children , etc
i agree many of your questions fall in the illegal category but not all.
It depends on the interviewers reason behind asking questions pertaining to family , children , etc.
What do you have to say ?
24th September 2007 From India, Mumbai

Hi,
I think any question which may make the candidate feel offended or hurt should not be asked...I have seen many interviewers asking candidate about their personal life especially to female candidates like: are you married? do you have children? were your love marriage? do you have affair with anyone? etc. etc. Which has really nothing to do with their job... and there is no gaurantee they give right anwers... So better you judge on the basis of their professional experience and expertise/skills rather on the personal information....
Regards,
Darshan
24th September 2007 From India, Pune

Hi Darshan,

My comments to your doc are below. I have given the intensions of HR

Illegal and Sensitive Questions – Not to be asked

1. Are you able to work overtime, evenings and weekends?

Intention to know flexibility and commitment to work

2. How do you feel about attending conferences with (men) (women) ?

Behavioural question

3. What child care arrangements have you made?

To understand your situation and track your adaptability

4. What type of position does your spouse have?

To ensure that the work doesn’t disturb the family commitments

5. Do you think that you can supervise (men) (women), and how do you think they will react?

Behavioural/ Leadership

6. This job has always been handled by a (female) (male). Do you think you can handle it?

Behavioural/ Leadership/ Attitude question

7. Are you willing to put career interests before self-interests?

Commitment to work

8. What are your computer skills? Would you be interested in doing some word processing?

This is a general question. Depends on JD

9. How do you feel about women's liberation?

Behavioural/ Leadership/ Attitude question

10. By the way, would you mind telling me: "Just how old are you?"

Attitude/ Reactions(How often do you over react)

11. How do you respond to authority?

Attitude/ Reactions

12. How do you define sexual harassment?

Attitude/ Reactions/ Relation at work

13. Where were you born?

General

14. What's your nationality?

General

15. Are you married, divorced, separated, or single?

General / to know commitments

16. Are you living/staying with anyone? (R u staying alone)

General / to know commitments

17. What holidays do you celebrate?

I am not sure of this- May be if you are taking an interview for a different region , you are asked this to know commitment level

18. Do you have any disabilities that affect your work?

Commitment level

19. What is your health situation like?

Commitment level

20. Have you ever been arrested?

Common question

21. Are you on any medications?

Common question – Commitment /adaptability

22. Do you ever abuse alcohol or drugs?

General - Attitude

23. How many children do you have?

Commitments

24. What church do you attend?

Reactions/Attitude

25. How do you think my older employees would react if I hired you?

Attitude

26. Do you have many debts?

Normally asked in Foreign countries… to know commitment level. They also verify if you have delayed any payments …

27. Do you own or rent your home?

Commitments

28. How much insurance do you have?

General

29. How much do you weigh?

Attitude – Not advised for opposite sex

30. Do you plan to have any more children?

Commitments

31. What does your spouse think about your career?

Commitments/Family background

32. Have you ever brought a law suit against an employer?

Attitude/ adaptability/ problemsolving

33. Have you ever filed for workers' comp?

General – in an industry- how do you adapt yourself at work and how careful you are at your work

34. Where do you usually go on vacation?

Commitments

35. What do you think about romance in the office?

Attitude – Not suggested for opposite sex

36. Have you ever been sexually harassed?

Attitude/ Morale

37. Do you have plans to get married?

Commitment

38. Tell me about your family.

Commitments

I believe these are questions asked world wide. So before asking such questions, please ensure that you are asking in right question at right place

Durga
27th September 2007 From India, Hyderabad

Hello Durga,
Thanks for giving the justifications, however, I am not much convinced with most of them where you have mentioned "commitment"...There are many other questions to find out their "commitment"..Interviews are generally taken on the professional terms and not the personal terms...Job interview is a conversation where you should ask the questions to find out their technical and professional skills...This is what I believe...However, different individual may have different opinion and point of view....
By the way thanks for sharing thoughts and exp.....
Regards,
Darshan
27th September 2007 From India, Pune

Durga, your justifications are not justified. At least in the US, there are state specific regulations that prohibit such questions since they have the potential for discrimination related to age, gender, marital status, etc. What church do you attend? Do you plan to have children? These questions do not have any bearing on jobs and only encourages discrimination. A person's religious orientation or family plans should not be taken into consideration for the job. If you desire to know the level of commitment of the concerned candidate, there are many other ways to do so. I totally disagree with your answers and truly hope that you are not actually asking these questions to candidates. Unfortunately, people in India are not aware of these things and most of the times, candidates who appear for interviews are either too desperate to get a job or too timid to express their opinions about the questions since that in itself would most likely disqualify them from the possibility of being hired. So the employers should ensure that such questions are never asked.
13th March 2009 From India, Hyderabad

Dear All
Im 100% agree with Durga.
Its depend on the person, situation or environment. So there is nothing wrong in asking these question according to the required requirement.
But the Darshan's clarification is also matured one.
Regards,
C. Bhushan Sharma
13th March 2009 From India, Nagpur