Your Job Application May Be Cause for Age Discrimination

Among the myriad of problems a business owner faces is compliance with the numerous federal and state laws pertaining to discrimination.

While experts and consultants see these issues as relatively simple and inexpensive to correct - the fact remains that business owners are either to overwhelmed to manage them; too ignorant to know; or - worse - to callous to even care.

Even the simplest thing can cause major problems. Take your Application For Employment form, for example.

I'm stunned at the number of applications which ask the applicant's age. This is illegal in the United States.

(You can ask if the applicant meets a minimum age requirement if the position requires a minimum age; and you can certainly ask if an applicant can provide proof of authorization to work in the United States - but proof should only be provided after a job offer is made. And in neither situation should you ask for proof of age during the application process).

Yet it continues to happen. Over and over again.

Age discrimination is illegal. And one of the easiest ways to fix this problem is to get an up-to-date employment application from a reputable attorney or consultant.

Courtesy Kansascity.com and the Miami Herald.