Reference no: EM1339855

Explain Job Application Questions- Employer and Candidate Rights

Case Study Scenario:
The following information is sometimes requested on employment applications, though candidates might consider some of it to be private or personal. Which of the following items might an employer have a legitimate claim to know, and why?
- A job applicant's social security number
- An applicant's arrest record
- An employee's medical records
- An employee's marital status
- Whether a job applicant smokes
- An employee's political affiliation
- An employee's sexual orientation
- An employee's credit rating

Case Study Questions:
What facts are relevant to your decisions?
What would the consequences be of refusing to answer any questions on an employment application?
Are you basing your decision on particular rights of the employee or the employer?
Are there people other than the employer and employee who might have a stake in what information is released to employers?

The solution addresses each of these questions; citing legal ramifications in posing these specific questions - along with ideas on how to rephrase others as a way to gather the same information.