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Can an employer ask your age on a job application?
Federal law does not prohibit employers from asking employees or job applicants about their age, including in application materials and background checks. However, asking about a person’s age could discourage older workers from applying to jobs because of fear of possible discrimination.
Is it against the law to ask someone their age?
Legal version: Are you over 18? Remember that while you can’t ask someone’s age, it’s perfectly legal to ensure they’re legally old enough to work for you.
Is it illegal to lie about your age on a job application?
Applicants who lie about their age to qualify for these jobs could be prosecuted for making false or fraudulent statements and face a fine or imprisonment. Employment applications often contain a disclaimer stating that it is grounds for termination if an applicant lies.
However, employers cannot use your age to discriminate against you. Further, some state laws prohibit questions about age. Therefore, while you might be asked your age on a job application, you should generally not be getting questions about your age during the job interview. 2
Is it illegal to ask someone their age in an interview?
It is generally illegal to discriminate on the basis of older age: specifically, the Federal Statue protects people older than 40 from age discrimination. So employers need to be somewhat cautious in handling this question. For example, it is not wise to discuss age in a job interview.
What are employers not allowed to say in a job application?
An employer may not base hiring decisions on stereotypes and assumptions about a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
Can employers legally ask for your date of birth on an application?
Can employers legally ask you for your date of birth on a job application? In many cases, the answer is yes. This is because there are legitimate reasons why they may need the information. 1 However, employers cannot use your age to discriminate against you.