Are employers allowed to require job applicants to complete a questionnaire?

In Maryland, employers are allowed to ask job applicants to complete a questionnaire as a part of the job application process. The information obtained from the completion of such a questionnaire is often used to evaluate the applicant’s suitability and qualifications for a role. However, employers must be aware that such a questionnaire must not contain any questions regarding personal information that could be used to discriminate against applicants, such as questions about their race, gender, or age. Maryland law prohibits employers from making hiring decisions based on this type of information. For any employers in Maryland that are considering using a questionnaire, there are restrictions that they must abide by. Employers should be careful to not ask any questions that could be interpreted as discriminatory or favoritism towards a certain group of people. In addition, any questions that are asked must be related to the job being applied for and should be posed in a far that is respectful and non-discriminatory in nature. It is important to remember that there are certain instances in which the completion of a questionnaire may be required by law or other regulatory authorities. In such cases, employers should be sure that they are using the questionnaire in a legal and compliant manner. The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation has guidelines and resources available for employers on their website. It is important that both employers and applicants are aware of their rights and responsibilities under Maryland employment discrimination law.

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