Are employers allowed to ask job applicants questions about their sexual orientation?

In California, employers are prohibited from asking job applicants questions about their sexual orientation. This is part of the state’s employment discrimination law, which prohibits employers from discriminating against job applicants and employees on the basis of their sexual orientation. Additionally, employers may not refuse to hire a job applicant because of his or her sexual orientation. Under this law, employers are also prohibited from inquiring about an applicant’s sex life or sexual history. This includes asking about an applicant’s plans for marriage, relationships, or children. Although employers in California are not allowed to ask applicants about their sexual orientation, they are permitted to assess an applicant’s qualifications in relation to the job they are applying for. For example, employers may ask questions related to work experience and education that could help determine whether an applicant is qualified for the job. Generally speaking, employers should focus their job interviews on the applicant’s qualifications and ask questions that are relevant to the job they are applying for. California’s employment discrimination laws exist to protect job applicants and employees from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, and employers should be aware of these laws when conducting job interviews.

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Are employers allowed to ask job applicants questions about their sexual orientation?

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