topic Asking Your Age in Job Applications in Community Chat

Asking Your Age in Job Applications

mimy13 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:22:58 GMT

I've been filling out job applications online recently and one that I did today asked me to fill in my birthdate. I tried to skip that part in the form as I thought this was illegal, but it wouldn't let me proceed without doing that part.

I entered it in, but I'm not too thrilled about it. When did this become something they were allowed to ask?

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Bri369 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:27:44 GMT

It's not illegal. They cannot use your age to discriminate against hiring you.

There may be a minimum age requirement. That can be solved by asking if you are over age 18, for example.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

mimy13 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:31:37 GMT

@Bri369

But how will I ever know if my age was the case then?

It started off by asking if I was over 16...and then later asked for my birthdate.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Johnnyeager — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:30:46 GMT

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects people 40 or older from being discriminated against in the workplace in favor of younger workers. The ADEA doesn't explicitly forbid asking a job applicant's age or birth date, but because such questions may indicate an intent to discriminate or discourage older workers from applying, they are closely scrutinized and can put employers at legal risk for age discrimination.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Cakers3 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:34:34 GMT

Sorry-typed before @Johnnyeager .

However, whether an employer wants somebody under the age of 40 or not really cannot be proven.

Even if the DOB is not requested, often employers will ask about dates of graduation.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

mimy13 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:38:59 GMT

@Cakers3

I remember years ago one well-known company asking me if I was over 18, and then later on asking if I was under 40. I was annoyed THEN. Today, to outright ask my exact birthdate, was very bold, I thought...

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Cakers3 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:47:17 GMT

@mimy13 wrote:
@Cakers3
I remember years ago one well-known company asking me if I was over 18, and then later on asking if I was under 40. I was annoyed THEN. Today, to outright ask my exact birthdate, was very bold, I thought...

@mimy13 18+ I can get behind since some jobs would not be suitable for young teens.

But outright asking your birthdate? Not cool.

I was asked during an interview for teaching position many moons ago if I planned on having a baby in the future.

To this day I don't know if the intent was religious or if it was to see how long I'd be around for the position.

Now that I look back, and I was hired, most of the teachers were middle-age with children half-grown.

(I also left after 2 years LOL)

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Johnnyeager — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:48:51 GMT

Most legitimate employers are wise enough to not ask directly on an application.

If they want to age discriminate they'll do it later once you're hired under the guise of performance review or something like that so it's more difficult to legally challenge.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Bri369 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:51:08 GMT

@mimy13 wrote:

@Bri369
But how will I ever know if my age was the case then?

It started off by asking if I was over 16...and then later asked for my birthdate.

@mimy13 I think it would be very hard to prove if age is a factor whether someone gets hired or doesn't get hired.

If they have year of graduation, it wouldn't be hard to figure out someone's age. You would have to provide that for a background check.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

lovesrecess — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:54:52 GMT

Employers can usually figure out if you are over a certain age by looking at the resume'. If you have graduation dates or years you attended college, a job history timeline, etc. they can figure it out.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Puppy Lips — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 18:58:51 GMT

I have been filling out job applications online too. So far no one has asked my age or date of birth. But when they want to know when I graduated from college, well that gives them a good idea of how old I am. Grrrrr......

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Kachina624 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 20:22:25 GMT

@mimy13 The company with whom you're applying is about 50 years behind the times. A place with some moxey doesn't want that kind of information under any circumstances. It leaves them wide open for EEOC complaints by those NOT hired. I'd back out of their application and go elsewher

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Sooner — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:03:42 GMT

Whether they ask or know your age, your age in many jobs affects your ability to do the job. So do other factors such as height, weight, upper body strength, etc.

There are always decisions made about who gets any job, so the best thing is to ask yourself if the job fits you and take it from there.

Life isn't a spreadsheet.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

gertrudecloset — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:12:31 GMT

My state goes further than the EEOC guidelines as it is prohibited to ask the age (among other things) on an employment application. I'm truly grateful for this. These questions don't show up on any applications I've ever filled out.

Asking for SS # was a big thing (to make sure you are a legal citizen). I refused to input that information in application online or in person.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

gertrudecloset — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:15:50 GMT

@Puppy Lips wrote:
I have been filling out job applications online too. So far no one has asked my age or date of birth. But when they want to know when I graduated from college, well that gives them a good idea of how old I am. Grrrrr......

It shouldn't matter but you're right. Many people go back for advanced degrees and certificates though. When I did this, that was the only education I put on my resume. If I got called for an interview, then I could discuss it more.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

gertrudecloset — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:16:24 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Bri369 The company with whom you're applying is about 50 years behind the times. A place with some moxey doesn't want that kind of information under any circumstances. It leaves them wide open for EEOC complaints by those NOT hired. I'd back out of their application and go elsewhere.

@Kachina624 This!!!!

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Cakers3 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:17:07 GMT

@Johnnyeager wrote:
Most legitimate employers are wise enough to not ask directly on an application.

If they want to age discriminate they'll do it later once you're hired under the guise of performance review or something like that so it's more difficult to legally challenge.

@Johnnyeager Perhaps in terms of performance but in-person inteviews (or even Skype etc.) - fairly easy enough to determine if somebody is approx. in a certain age bracket anyway.

Except for me because of course I look 25 even though I'm in my 60's.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Cakers3 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:18:25 GMT

Age is one thing; let's not forget weight and disability factors, too.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Johnnyeager — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:21:08 GMT

Fair enough. No laws, yet, against that type of discrimination.

State laws are very important since some prohibit date of birth and high school graduation date questions.

At least then you may get a face to face meeting to start.

Re: Asking Your Age in Job Applications

Bri369 — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:28:46 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Bri369 The company with whom you're applying is about 50 years behind the times. A place with some moxey doesn't want that kind of information under any circumstances. It leaves them wide open for EEOC complaints by those NOT hired. I'd back out of their application and go elsewhere.

@Kachina624

I'm not applying for a job.