Can employers ask job applicants questions about their race, gender, or age?

No, employers in Washington cannot ask job applicants questions about their race, gender, or age. This is because employment discrimination laws in Washington make it unlawful for employers to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or medical condition. This means that employers are prohibited from making hiring decisions based on those protected classes. Therefore, asking job applicants questions about any of these characteristics is deemed discriminatory and could lead to employers facing stiff penalties. Certain questions about a job applicant’s national origin, such as what language they speak, may be allowed under certain circumstances. However, employers must be careful about how they ask the question and ensure the question does not single out a particular group of individuals. Furthermore, if employers assess job applicants through work sample tests, such tests must not be designed in a way that discriminates against anyone based on their race, gender, or age. In summary, employers in Washington are prohibited from asking job applicants questions about their race, gender, or age. If employers do ask such questions, they could face penalties for discriminating against a protected class.

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Can employers ask job applicants questions about their race, gender, or age?

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