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

In Washington, employers are generally not allowed to ask job applicants questions about their age. This is because of employment discrimination laws, which prohibit employers from discriminating against job applicants based on their age. The Washington State Human Rights Commission states that employers should not ask job applicants any questions relating to age or date of birth. This includes questions such as “How old are you?” and “What year did you graduate from high school?” Doing so could suggest that the employer is discriminating against applicants on the basis of age—which is illegal. If employers must know an applicant’s age, they should instead ask for the year an applicant graduated from high school. This provides employers with the information they need while attempting to avoid possible discrimination claims. Although employers can’t legally ask job applicants about their age, they can ask them if they are able to meet certain requirements, such as minimum age requirements for the job or age requirements to comply with state or federal laws. Employers should never make assumptions about job applicants based on their age. Otherwise, they could be violating employment discrimination laws. It is important that employers remain aware of this legal obligation, as they could be held liable for any violations.

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

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