I am a 43 year old retired Navy veteran and recently relocated back to
Albuquerque to be with my aging parents. Today (1/30/07), I had a part two of
Four parts of an interview with Verizon. The first part was a telephone
Interview (1/25/07), which was conducted last week. Today was the computer
Based testing on customer service and technical computer questions, and 114
Behavioral questions. Parts three and four are separate interviews. I was told
During the initial phone interview that after part two, I would be told the
Results of the computer based test. Well, I was, and successfully passed, but
Was also told that while I was in the testing, the H.R. office was told that
They are overstaffed and the next class was not going to be scheduled until July
2007.

Now my question: One of the behavioral questions (#94 or #96) was, are you over the age of 40? I
Checked yes because I am 43. Is it appropriate and legal to ask a persons age?
It just seemed kind of funny the response I was given about the overstaffing
After my responses from the computer questions was viewed by the H.R. office. Thank you for your time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by valdezg

Now my question: One of the behavioral questions (#94 or #96) was, are you over the age of 40? I
checked yes because I am 43. Is it appropriate and legal to ask a persons age?

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No it’s not right.

It could perhaps be an error on their part, you can let them know.

You were under no obligation to answer it.

No, if you felt they aren’t hiring you because of your age, you can file a complaint with your local Human Rights governmental agency and also tell them about this question.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by valdezg

based testing on customer service and technical computer questions, and 114 behavioral questions.

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Hello valdez:

It's a very interesting question. They're not obligated to tell you the real reason.

But, dude, it's not your age. 43 is prime stuff. YOU are wanted and needed in the workplace. Some company can get 20 years out of you. Age discrimination happens with people MY age. I'm 20 years older than you. In fact, I'll bet the law barring age discrimination says exactly what ages it refers to. I'm not going to look it up. It's just my bet.

The interesting part is the OTHER 112 behavioral questions you answered. Some of those questions MUST have been VERY personal. What if they determined from your answers (wrongfully, of course) that you're a child molester? What if they refused employment based on that? I’d want to know that. Wouldn’t you?

I wouldn't have taken the test unless I could see the results. But, that's just me.

excon

Asking the age of a applicant unless there are specific laws on the job is illegal. They can not ask marrital status, age, sex, race or any protected class during an interview.

For example, the FBI or the Air Marshalls can ask since by law you can't be over a certain age to go to work for them ( 35 I think)

If you were going to be an airline pilot you can't be over 60 I think.

But for a phone company I don't see where age would matter and asking it is illegal.

Sounds like a law suit to me, and there needs to be one if they are asking this question.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by excon

In fact, I'll bet the law barring age discrimination says exactly what ages it refers to. I'm not going to look it up. It's just my bet.

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Here in Ontario it doesn’t.

Older people are not the only ones who can be discriminated against.

Younger people can be discriminated against as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by valdezg

I am a 43 year old retired Navy veteran and recently relocated back to
Albuquerque to be with my aging parents. Today (1/30/07), I had a part two of
four parts of an interview with Verizon. The first part was a telephone
interview (1/25/07), which was conducted last week. Today was the computer
based testing on customer service and technical computer questions, and 114
behavioral questions. Parts three and four are separate interviews. I was told
during the initial phone interview that after part two, I would be told the
results of the computer based test. Well, I was, and successfully passed, but
was also told that while I was in the testing, the H.R. office was told that
they are overstaffed and the next class was not going to be scheduled until July
2007.

Now my question: One of the behavioral questions (#94 or #96) was, are you over the age of 40? I
checked yes because I am 43. Is it appropriate and legal to ask a persons age?
It just seemed kind of funny the response I was given about the overstaffing
after my responses from the computer questions was viewed by the H.R. office. Thank you for your time.

---

By law they cannot ask you your age. And it says in the law that an employer cannot discriminate by age for anyone over 40yr. But, that is a message from the government I feel to kind of say to an employer, don't hire anyone over 40yr. Have you worked out here lately? Most of the employees are under 25yrs old and have tatoos and tongue rings and talk terrible in the workplace and lie about the older employees as well... the other way they do it and I don't think that it is lawful either, but they will ask you the year you graduated from high school or college! And they can figure it out from there. And for God's sake don't tell someone your age after you do get hired... the young will start the kill as soon as they hear it!
Those of us who are older than 40 yr. have a good work ethic. We gave service to our patients... this generation of nurses could care less, no compassion... never discuss a or say a kind word about a patient in report anymore... mostly because these latch key kids never bonded with anyone but their peers! Sad society nowadays and it will get worse when all the illegals take over our big jobs!! There's no labor laws anymore... for the caucacian... they aren't afraid to fire us, so they hire anyone with color,young,homosexual, addicts, so if you don't fit their agenda sorry... you could wait a long time... that's america. Sorry I am so cynical ! But, when only 3% of our population is wealthy and the middleclass is gone where does that leave us?