Is it acceptable to ask a potential employee their age?

seven-day-weekend

fiscalfreckles wrote: »

But surely if the applicant had filled in an application form they would have had to state their date of birth?

AFAIK they should not ask your date of birth or your age. In most cases it is irrelevant and if it is not it should be stated why and the legislation quoted.

Before taking early retirement in 2004, I applied for several posts within a Local Authoirity (got some of them) and not once on the forms did it ask my dob.

I think your girlfriend should just have said that because of legislation (or whatever) she needed to check that the applicant was over 18.

Zazen999

crispsandwich

This woman sounds as if she is a bit of a nightmare in the making. From experience: makes sure your gf has made notes and scored each applicant fairly. If this woman does ask for feedback, don't mention the age thing, or the lateness thing, but base the response on her answers, and make sure she is aware that other people were more suitable for the role.

Managers need to ensure fair and effective recruitment, so that if it does end up with a candidate accusing someone of unfairness, the recruiter/manager can refer to the questions asked [of which the main ones should be asked of all candidates], and the answers given and the reasoning behind the decision.

Also note that your gf asked the age prior to interview and still interviewed; if she was going to discriminate I would expect her not to interview this person, so have this up her sleeve for the question should it arise.

Always interview with the main questions written down, with a separate sheet for each candidate, and score them accordingly and save the paperwork for future reference. You never know when this could save you from a court case.

cazziebo

Zazen999 wrote: »

crispsandwich

This woman sounds as if she is a bit of a nightmare in the making. From experience: makes sure your gf has made notes and scored each applicant fairly. If this woman does ask for feedback, don't mention the age thing, or the lateness thing, but base the response on her answers, and make sure she is aware that other people were more suitable for the role.

Managers need to ensure fair and effective recruitment, so that if it does end up with a candidate accusing someone of unfairness, the recruiter/manager can refer to the questions asked [of which the main ones should be asked of all candidates], and the answers given and the reasoning behind the decision.

Also note that your gf asked the age prior to interview and still interviewed; if she was going to discriminate I would expect her not to interview this person, so have this up her sleeve for the question should it arise.

Always interview with the main questions written down, with a separate sheet for each candidate, and score them accordingly and save the paperwork for future reference. You never know when this could save you from a court case.

:T :T Good advice!

Doom_and_Gloom

juno wrote: »

Well I'm a J and early 20s, so that ruins your theory

I agree Juno as mine starts J and as you well know I'm only 19 :rotfl: .

therealdessie

I've been asked both my age and my marital status before. I found both questions (same interviewer btw) quite offensive and I think they did work against me - in my case though there was no clear reason for asking.

juno

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

I agree Juno as mine starts J and as you well know I'm only 19 :rotfl: .

No, you're 14

Doom_and_Gloom

Errata wrote: »

It's not acceptable to ask nor is is necessary. Intelligent employers look at the dates candidates attended school and figure things out for themselves.

This will work with most however home schooled people or people who went to one of the colleges I attended that you could do your GSCE's and then A-Levels 2 years early if you were able meaning that people of 16 left with A-Levels this is NOT going to work. It is rare but it does happen. Hell some 16 year olds have been to Uni :eek: . That is never going to help an employer work out their age :rotfl: .

To be honest OP I think your girlfriend should have just asked if they were over 18 due to insurence reasons. Nothing illigal in that I'm sure.

seven-day-weekend

My NI number starts with a Y.........

Doom_and_Gloom

juno wrote: »

No, you're 14

Oh very funny Juno. Just because you act as if you are 14 does not mean I do or that my real age is such .

Errata

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

This will work with most however home schooled people or people who went to one of the colleges I attended that you could do your GSCE's and then A-Levels 2 years early if you were able meaning that people of 16 left with A-Levels this is NOT going to work. It is rare but it does happen. Hell some 16 year olds have been to Uni :eek: . That is never going to help an employer work out their age :rotfl: .

To be honest OP I think your girlfriend should have just asked if they were over 18 due to insurence reasons. Nothing illigal in that I'm sure.

Point taken, but the age plus or minus a couple of years can still be figured out.