Discrimination In Employment - article by Good English Article Sites

Feel you're a victim of discrimination in employment? Know the law!

You don't need to follow the monthly employment reports to know that today's job market is a tough market indeed. Jobs are scarce. Even if your skills are excellent, with impeccable references, you're competing against a large group of equally well qualified candidates, vying for the same job. Should you not be hired, you're usually told that the candidate chosen had better qualifications and, 'Thank you for your interest'.

With so many people out of work, in many cases, this may be true. However, if you're older, you know that when you apply for a 'front-office' position, employers tend to hire younger people for such positions, simply because of their youthful appearance. If that employer offers a group health insurance plan, the older person is likely to cost more than a younger employee. Employers also take into account how long you'll stay with the company that's investing time, benefits and perhaps, continuing education in nurturing the more 'profitable' employee, over time. Although there are strict laws governing discrimination in employment, gender, marital status, ethnicity and even religious affiliations can play a hidden role in determining whether you are hired or not. Although prohibited by law, discrimination in employment is more common than you might suppose.

In order to protect yourself from discrimination in employment, here a few things you need to know about what questions may legitimately be asked during an interview, as well as those which cannot be asked by a potential employer.

An interviewer may ask if you speak any foreign languages, but may not ask if a foreign language is your native tongue. If the job you're applying for requires overtime or travel on an occasional basis, the interviewer may ask if you are available and how much advance notice you'd require to accommodate a changing schedule. While an employer may ask if you have reliable transportation, but cannot get into your mode of travel. For example, if you intend to bike or take public transportation, you need not elaborate on your choice of transportation. A simple yes or no is all you need to specify. If the job requires that you use your own vehicle to perform your duties, such as newspaper delivering, then the employer has the right to ask if you have a car and insurance coverage.

The list of questions the employer may not ask is considerably longer. The interviewer cannot query you on your age, marital status, whether you have children or plan to have children, or child care arrangements. Moreover, you need not answer questions on your living quarters, such as whether you own or rent. You are protected by law against queries regarding your spouse's occupation, or whether you have taken a leave of absence during a previous job. Questions about religious affiliations or attendance at your house of worship are also on the list of forbidden questions.

Many people voluntarily list their college, degree and year of graduation on their resume. If you are older and graduated decades ago, this invites discrimination in employment. It is sufficient to list your school, degree and field of study. You do not need to provide the year.

Knowing your rights and the laws designed to protect you from discrimination in employment goes a long way towards avoiding discriminatory practices in employment interviews. If an interviewer presses you for answers to any of these illegitimate questions, it's likely to affect the outcome of the hiring process, with you losing a job opportunity with the 'wrong' answers.

It's a good idea to prepare for an interview with a friend who asks you some of these questions which lead to discrimination in employment. This gives you an opportunity to field such questions firmly, but graciously. Employers are well aware of the labor laws against discrimination. It's up to you to know your rights.

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