Handout: Illegal hiring questions
Many questions in a veterinary practice hiring interview that seem harmless on the surface can be discriminatory. Applicants, make sure your interview was on the level. Managers, make sure you review what you'll ask against this list of discriminatory subjects.
Download this handout for examples of illegal hiring questions to avoid.Managers can avoid charges of racism, sexism, age-ism and a lot of other "ism"s by avoiding questions about these topics when they interview job applicants at your veterinary practice:
> Changes to an applicant's name, unless you need the information to check his or her past work record
> Birthplace
> Religion
> Race or skin, eye or hair color
> Citizenship status
> Ancestry or national origin
> Age or birth date, unless you need to prove that an applicant meets the legal age requirements
> Names of clubs, societies, lodges, organizations or other social groups to which the applicant belongs
> Sexual orientation
> Marital status
> Number of dependents
> Health, including all questions pertaining to physical or mental disabilities.
Want a longer list of prohibited practices in hiring? Click here for details on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.
Want to learn more ways to make sure your hiring practices are spot-on and you get "10" superstars? Check out Opperman and Grosdidier's book on practice management here.
