Are employers allowed to ask job applicants questions about their age?

In North Carolina, employers are allowed to ask job applicants questions about their age during the application process, but with some exceptions. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits employers from discriminating against job applicants and employees on the basis of age. This means that employers cannot disqualify someone from a job or from a promotion based solely on their age. However, age-related questions may be asked of job applicants in limited circumstances. Generally, employers may ask about age if it is considered a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the business. This means the employer can consider age if there is a legitimate business reason for doing so, such as hiring someone for a job where age is necessary for safety reasons or to meet certain legal requirements. Furthermore, employers should not use the information from an age-related question to make decisions related to hiring or promotion. Overall, employers in North Carolina are allowed to ask job applicants about their age, but only in certain situations where age is a necessary qualification of the job. Employers must be careful to ensure that the information is not used for discriminatory purposes.

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