Job application personal questions [modified]
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I'm interviewing with a company this week and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and bring with me. Right off the bat they started with a series of questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker. While I have no medical problems and don't smoke, I don't think it's permissible to ask these personal questions and I'm not going to fill in these sections of the form. If they ask me during the interview, I'll have to ask them if they are allowed to request that type of information. The company is based in the UK, but this is a US branch office. I'm wondering, are the rules for requesting this type of personal information are different in the UK than in the US? Or are these guys just casting a line and hoping I'll bite? -- modified at 1:25 Thursday 17th May, 2007 Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I should have mentioned that this is a mutual interview. These people contacted me on a "cold-call" and now I'm considering if I should bring my business to them. I already have a client that requires a contracting agency and am just looking for an agency to represent me. Given these circumstances, I'm not asking them for an interview, but rather investigating whether or not they can do better for me than the contracting agency I'm currently using. So given that I'm in the driver's seat, I'm just wondering about the legality of their private information questions. My inclination is to decline the questionnaire entirely and let them know this beforehand. I have no doubt that they're greedy enough not to cancel the interview, but I'd like to know what the legalities are before I get asked about why I refuse to cough up my personal info.
QRZ? de WAØTTN
Unless they're providing private health care why would they need this information? As a contractor I always refuse to answer personal questions since they are completely irrelevent to the job at hand. In fact, unless there is a demonstrable legal requirement to do so I NEVER give any personal information to anyone for any reason: why the hell would I? I'm sure, however, that, even though they are a UK based company, they must follow US law if you are employed and paid within the US so it is whatever is applicable in your locale: I'm sure there must be someone you can ask about the legality or otherwise of the questions. For instance, since it is now illegal to ask somebody their age in the UK they they may ask you to 'volunteer' the information. Now I get asked how long I've been in IT: like that means anything: Yes, 20 years but I've had 40 contracts cos I ran out of skill early on or 3 years, 1 job, 2 promotions. Silly examples, I know, but you get the picture.
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Exactly - even if they say "Yeah, you're right, sorry we asked those questions" I would then be forever suspicious about their business practices, too. Trust is rather a prerequisite for doing business with anyone who will be handling your money.
Cheers,
Patrick
An intellectual is someone whose mind watches itself.
Albert Camus
I had a project in the past to justify all of the data that was in a corporate database. Some HR tables had all kinds of information that no one could find a reason for having (neither for business use or as a legal requirement). Could just be an HR department trying to justify their existence??
The only thing unpredictable about me is just how predictable I'm going to be.
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Unless they're providing private health care why would they need this information? As a contractor I always refuse to answer personal questions since they are completely irrelevent to the job at hand. In fact, unless there is a demonstrable legal requirement to do so I NEVER give any personal information to anyone for any reason: why the hell would I? I'm sure, however, that, even though they are a UK based company, they must follow US law if you are employed and paid within the US so it is whatever is applicable in your locale: I'm sure there must be someone you can ask about the legality or otherwise of the questions. For instance, since it is now illegal to ask somebody their age in the UK they they may ask you to 'volunteer' the information. Now I get asked how long I've been in IT: like that means anything: Yes, 20 years but I've had 40 contracts cos I ran out of skill early on or 3 years, 1 job, 2 promotions. Silly examples, I know, but you get the picture.
digital man wrote:
since it is now illegal to ask somebody their age in the UK they they may ask you to 'volunteer' the information. Now I get asked how long I've been in IT
8 years in the South African Defence Force, 8 years in Nature Conservation, 10 years in IT and I'mm 44. That question is getting them nowhere with me! :laugh: Seriusly though, as a contractor, what difference does your health make to the company?
Greetings from sunny South Africa!
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I'm interviewing with a company this week and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and bring with me. Right off the bat they started with a series of questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker. While I have no medical problems and don't smoke, I don't think it's permissible to ask these personal questions and I'm not going to fill in these sections of the form. If they ask me during the interview, I'll have to ask them if they are allowed to request that type of information. The company is based in the UK, but this is a US branch office. I'm wondering, are the rules for requesting this type of personal information are different in the UK than in the US? Or are these guys just casting a line and hoping I'll bite? -- modified at 1:25 Thursday 17th May, 2007 Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I should have mentioned that this is a mutual interview. These people contacted me on a "cold-call" and now I'm considering if I should bring my business to them. I already have a client that requires a contracting agency and am just looking for an agency to represent me. Given these circumstances, I'm not asking them for an interview, but rather investigating whether or not they can do better for me than the contracting agency I'm currently using. So given that I'm in the driver's seat, I'm just wondering about the legality of their private information questions. My inclination is to decline the questionnaire entirely and let them know this beforehand. I have no doubt that they're greedy enough not to cancel the interview, but I'd like to know what the legalities are before I get asked about why I refuse to cough up my personal info.
QRZ? de WAØTTN
This is fairly common for public or large organisations within the UK to ask these questions and there are a few reasons. 1) They want to know you'll be able to turnup for work in a fit state and you won't disappear off for a 18months sick leave on 3/4 pay, then leave. 2) Health and safety demand they do a risk assessment for to ensure that employee are fit to do a job. i.e. Put someone with 3 nervious breakdowns in charge of 25 staff and a lot of work might not be a good idea and they can get sued for doing so; because they never asked the right questions. 3) A lot of UK jobs come with Health Insurance, Death in Service (x4 salary usually), pension, critical illness cover and pensions; the insurance demand to know who they are covering. 4) You can't sack someone for being ill in the UK.
Grady Booch: I told Google to their face...what you need is some serious adult supervision. (2007 Turing lecture) http://www.frankkerrigan.com/[^]
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You are wise to be suspicious. Questions about your health are most definitely ILLEGAL in the US. That's up there with asking you about your marital status, or whether you are pregnant. If they press you to answer those questions, you should tell them you are alerting the Attorney General's office.
-------------------------------- "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing" -- Edmund Burke
Richie308 wrote:
That's up there with asking you about your marital status
:omg: Can't I ask you "are you married"? What's the problem with that?
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Actually to do this in the UK is illegal.
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I'm interviewing with a company this week and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and bring with me. Right off the bat they started with a series of questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker. While I have no medical problems and don't smoke, I don't think it's permissible to ask these personal questions and I'm not going to fill in these sections of the form. If they ask me during the interview, I'll have to ask them if they are allowed to request that type of information. The company is based in the UK, but this is a US branch office. I'm wondering, are the rules for requesting this type of personal information are different in the UK than in the US? Or are these guys just casting a line and hoping I'll bite? -- modified at 1:25 Thursday 17th May, 2007 Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I should have mentioned that this is a mutual interview. These people contacted me on a "cold-call" and now I'm considering if I should bring my business to them. I already have a client that requires a contracting agency and am just looking for an agency to represent me. Given these circumstances, I'm not asking them for an interview, but rather investigating whether or not they can do better for me than the contracting agency I'm currently using. So given that I'm in the driver's seat, I'm just wondering about the legality of their private information questions. My inclination is to decline the questionnaire entirely and let them know this beforehand. I have no doubt that they're greedy enough not to cancel the interview, but I'd like to know what the legalities are before I get asked about why I refuse to cough up my personal info.
QRZ? de WAØTTN
If you're in the UK working as a contractor I used TreasureGuard and they were great (no IR35 worries, money always on time). These kind of questions for a contractor though? If you have plenty of work then decline. I'm wondering - are they maybe acting as an imtermediary? Elaine :rose:
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Richie308 wrote:
That's up there with asking you about your marital status
:omg: Can't I ask you "are you married"? What's the problem with that?
For a job application your marital status has no bearing on whether you can do the job or not.
Upcoming events: * Glasgow: SQL Server 2005 - XML and XML Query Plans, Mock Objects, SQL Server Reporting Services... Never write for other people. Write for yourself, because you have a passion for it. -- Marc Clifton My website
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digital man wrote:
since it is now illegal to ask somebody their age in the UK they they may ask you to 'volunteer' the information. Now I get asked how long I've been in IT
8 years in the South African Defence Force, 8 years in Nature Conservation, 10 years in IT and I'mm 44. That question is getting them nowhere with me! :laugh: Seriusly though, as a contractor, what difference does your health make to the company?
Greetings from sunny South Africa!
I suppose they may wish to be sure you won't keel over mid-project!
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I'm interviewing with a company this week and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and bring with me. Right off the bat they started with a series of questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker. While I have no medical problems and don't smoke, I don't think it's permissible to ask these personal questions and I'm not going to fill in these sections of the form. If they ask me during the interview, I'll have to ask them if they are allowed to request that type of information. The company is based in the UK, but this is a US branch office. I'm wondering, are the rules for requesting this type of personal information are different in the UK than in the US? Or are these guys just casting a line and hoping I'll bite? -- modified at 1:25 Thursday 17th May, 2007 Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I should have mentioned that this is a mutual interview. These people contacted me on a "cold-call" and now I'm considering if I should bring my business to them. I already have a client that requires a contracting agency and am just looking for an agency to represent me. Given these circumstances, I'm not asking them for an interview, but rather investigating whether or not they can do better for me than the contracting agency I'm currently using. So given that I'm in the driver's seat, I'm just wondering about the legality of their private information questions. My inclination is to decline the questionnaire entirely and let them know this beforehand. I have no doubt that they're greedy enough not to cancel the interview, but I'd like to know what the legalities are before I get asked about why I refuse to cough up my personal info.
QRZ? de WAØTTN
I would think that the U.S. laws would be applicaple to the U.S. branch. It is VERY illegal in the U.S. to ask these types of interview questions! PERIOD! They are not even allowed to ask you if you are married, or have kids... My typical response to such a question is along the lines of "Whether I have kids or not has no bearing on my qualifications for this position." I immediately consider these types of interviews "throw aways" and tend to have a little fun with them. :) Turn the tables and start asking them off the wall questions. At the end, I let them know that THEY have failed THEIR interview and I am not interested in a position with their company.
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I'm interviewing with a company this week and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and bring with me. Right off the bat they started with a series of questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker. While I have no medical problems and don't smoke, I don't think it's permissible to ask these personal questions and I'm not going to fill in these sections of the form. If they ask me during the interview, I'll have to ask them if they are allowed to request that type of information. The company is based in the UK, but this is a US branch office. I'm wondering, are the rules for requesting this type of personal information are different in the UK than in the US? Or are these guys just casting a line and hoping I'll bite? -- modified at 1:25 Thursday 17th May, 2007 Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I should have mentioned that this is a mutual interview. These people contacted me on a "cold-call" and now I'm considering if I should bring my business to them. I already have a client that requires a contracting agency and am just looking for an agency to represent me. Given these circumstances, I'm not asking them for an interview, but rather investigating whether or not they can do better for me than the contracting agency I'm currently using. So given that I'm in the driver's seat, I'm just wondering about the legality of their private information questions. My inclination is to decline the questionnaire entirely and let them know this beforehand. I have no doubt that they're greedy enough not to cancel the interview, but I'd like to know what the legalities are before I get asked about why I refuse to cough up my personal info.
QRZ? de WAØTTN
I believe what you are looking for is http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/[^] Asking about your health is a violation of the HIPAA act, IMO.
Why is common sense not common? Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level where they are an expert. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to be lazy
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You are wise to be suspicious. Questions about your health are most definitely ILLEGAL in the US. That's up there with asking you about your marital status, or whether you are pregnant. If they press you to answer those questions, you should tell them you are alerting the Attorney General's office.
-------------------------------- "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing" -- Edmund Burke
Richie308 wrote:
are most definitely ILLEGAL in the US
actually, all those questions are common on applications for US government work. :) And manditorily filled. :)
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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I'm interviewing with a company this week and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and bring with me. Right off the bat they started with a series of questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker. While I have no medical problems and don't smoke, I don't think it's permissible to ask these personal questions and I'm not going to fill in these sections of the form. If they ask me during the interview, I'll have to ask them if they are allowed to request that type of information. The company is based in the UK, but this is a US branch office. I'm wondering, are the rules for requesting this type of personal information are different in the UK than in the US? Or are these guys just casting a line and hoping I'll bite? -- modified at 1:25 Thursday 17th May, 2007 Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I should have mentioned that this is a mutual interview. These people contacted me on a "cold-call" and now I'm considering if I should bring my business to them. I already have a client that requires a contracting agency and am just looking for an agency to represent me. Given these circumstances, I'm not asking them for an interview, but rather investigating whether or not they can do better for me than the contracting agency I'm currently using. So given that I'm in the driver's seat, I'm just wondering about the legality of their private information questions. My inclination is to decline the questionnaire entirely and let them know this beforehand. I have no doubt that they're greedy enough not to cancel the interview, but I'd like to know what the legalities are before I get asked about why I refuse to cough up my personal info.
QRZ? de WAØTTN
NetDave wrote:
QRZ? de WAØTTN
WA0TTN de WD8BEZ QTH is Naples, FL Ur RST is 559 :) 73 WA0TTN de WD8BEZ k
WE ARE DYSLEXIC OF BORG. Refutance is systile. Your a$$ will be laminated.
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I'm interviewing with a company this week and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and bring with me. Right off the bat they started with a series of questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker. While I have no medical problems and don't smoke, I don't think it's permissible to ask these personal questions and I'm not going to fill in these sections of the form. If they ask me during the interview, I'll have to ask them if they are allowed to request that type of information. The company is based in the UK, but this is a US branch office. I'm wondering, are the rules for requesting this type of personal information are different in the UK than in the US? Or are these guys just casting a line and hoping I'll bite? -- modified at 1:25 Thursday 17th May, 2007 Thanks for your comments so far everyone. I should have mentioned that this is a mutual interview. These people contacted me on a "cold-call" and now I'm considering if I should bring my business to them. I already have a client that requires a contracting agency and am just looking for an agency to represent me. Given these circumstances, I'm not asking them for an interview, but rather investigating whether or not they can do better for me than the contracting agency I'm currently using. So given that I'm in the driver's seat, I'm just wondering about the legality of their private information questions. My inclination is to decline the questionnaire entirely and let them know this beforehand. I have no doubt that they're greedy enough not to cancel the interview, but I'd like to know what the legalities are before I get asked about why I refuse to cough up my personal info.
QRZ? de WAØTTN
NetDave wrote:
questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker
Do they at all have any government contracts? If so, this is often a requirement of them. The US Government has been smoke-free for about eight years now, so questions related to smoking means you would not be able to work on any of these locations, and they may not want to provide separate facilities for you to work in, meaning you wouldn't get the job. If they already have separate facilities that are not smoke-free, then you may only get the job at that facility and will not be considered for positions that move between facilities or require on-site location work on government facilities. Health questions, and financial questions are a matter of security concern. If there is any reason for you to be "desperate" (poverty, or expensive health issues) you will be a security risk and this will be weighed heavily in consideration of employment. You get asked a LOT of personal questions in anything that is related to, or directly involving US government contracts.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Richie308 wrote:
are most definitely ILLEGAL in the US
actually, all those questions are common on applications for US government work. :) And manditorily filled. :)
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
on the application itself, or in the ream of material that's required to start the security investigation process?
-- You have to explain to them [VB coders] what you mean by "typed". their first response is likely to be something like, "Of course my code is typed. Do you think i magically project it onto the screen with the power of my mind?" --- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
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on the application itself, or in the ream of material that's required to start the security investigation process?
-- You have to explain to them [VB coders] what you mean by "typed". their first response is likely to be something like, "Of course my code is typed. Do you think i magically project it onto the screen with the power of my mind?" --- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
dan neely wrote:
on the application itself, or in the ream of material that's required to start the security investigation process?
smoking, married, and major health issues are on the application. the rest is in the monstrous book they call security forms.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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dan neely wrote:
on the application itself, or in the ream of material that's required to start the security investigation process?
smoking, married, and major health issues are on the application. the rest is in the monstrous book they call security forms.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
You must be somehow mistaken, because marital status is one of those things along with race, religion, and national origin, that is not allowed to be considered. And it might be allowed to ask "Do you have any disabilities that would prevent you from performing this job?", but that is not the same as requiring a medical history.
-------------------------------- "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing" -- Edmund Burke
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NetDave wrote:
questions about my medical history and whether or not I'm a smoker
Do they at all have any government contracts? If so, this is often a requirement of them. The US Government has been smoke-free for about eight years now, so questions related to smoking means you would not be able to work on any of these locations, and they may not want to provide separate facilities for you to work in, meaning you wouldn't get the job. If they already have separate facilities that are not smoke-free, then you may only get the job at that facility and will not be considered for positions that move between facilities or require on-site location work on government facilities. Health questions, and financial questions are a matter of security concern. If there is any reason for you to be "desperate" (poverty, or expensive health issues) you will be a security risk and this will be weighed heavily in consideration of employment. You get asked a LOT of personal questions in anything that is related to, or directly involving US government contracts.
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
El Corazon wrote:
Health questions, and financial questions are a matter of security concern.
If these questions are allowed in the context of national security, that's one thing, but are you saying that every other private employer is allowed to ask these questions also?
-------------------------------- "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing" -- Edmund Burke
