Is Your Employment Application Updated?

All the legislation in the past few years has required employers to review their Employment Applications.  Requested information, such as the items below, should no longer be included on an Employment Application.​
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• Social Security Number – A social security number is not needed until an offer is accepted.  Since Employment Applications should be completed prior to interviews and employment offers, employers do not need this information as it may raise concerns regarding privacy and identify theft
• Age Identifiers – Do not ask for graduation dates or date of birth
• Social Activities – Keep requested information focused on job skills and experience;  activities such as clubs, hobbies, etc. do not affect the job
• Criminal Inquiries – The EEOC recommends employers should avoid asking about criminal histories on Employment Applications.  Once the candidate’s qualifications and experience are vetted and the employer moves to the next step, questions regarding if the candidate has been convicted, plead guilty or no contest to  a felony can be asked and reviewed for relevancy the position
• Salary History – Recently, states have passed laws restricting employers from making inquiries into a candidate’s pay history during the hiring process. Texas has not passed a law yet, but by not including salary history on an Employment Application, the employer should offer a salary based on skills and experience, not previous salaries.

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