Are employers allowed to ask job applicants about their religion?

In Hawaii, employers are not allowed to ask job applicants about their religion as this could be a form of religious discrimination. According to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers are prohibited from discriminating against applicants and employees based on religion. This means that religion should not be used as a factor when making employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, promoting, or giving raises. For example, an employer cannot reject a qualified job applicant or make employment decisions (such as firing) because of that person’s religious beliefs. In addition, an employer cannot require that a job applicant answer any question regarding their religion. This includes requiring an applicant to disclose their religious beliefs on a job application or during an interview. However, an employer is allowed to ask if an applicant is able to work certain hours that may fall on a religious holiday, such as a synagogue or church service. In short, requesting or requiring an applicant to disclose information about their religion is illegal in the state of Hawaii. Employers should be careful when making hiring decisions and ensure that religion is not taken into consideration. Doing so could result in an employee or applicant filing a discrimination lawsuit against the employer.

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Are employers allowed to ask job applicants about their religion?

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