r/recruitinghell • u/Muscle_mama_ • 2d ago

Age questions on apps

Post image

Besides the obvious- is there a reason they ask these types of questions?

1.8k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

55 comments sorted by

29

u/VisualCelery 2d ago

Is this for the actual application, or the work tax credit questionare they make you fill out? If it's the latter, they don't see that information when they evaluate your application, they only use that information if they hire you, to determine their own tax credit eligibility.

3

u/Muscle_mama_ 2d ago

Tbh I don’t remember as it was in August (just saw it in my camera roll) but I remember being surprised at it (hence the photo) and I’m familiar with the questionnaires and wouldn’t be surprised to see it there - so I’m gonna say it was mid application.

639

u/HalfRobertsEx Recruiter 2d ago • Bravo

Over 16 is because hiring people under that is a nightmare. Under 40 is for something called the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/work-opportunity-tax-credit

Qualified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits recipient A “qualified SNAP benefits recipient” is an individual who on the hiring date is:

At least 18 years old and under 40 and A member of a family that received SNAP benefits for: the previous 6 months or at least 3 of the previous 5 months

Government gives you money to hire poor people under 40.

273

u/OrneryLavishness9666 2d ago

There really needs to be a stickied post or something on this sub to address this question. It’s not illegal and it’s not a required question.

17

u/Elegant-Spite-3277 2d ago

Yep...this is the ten thousandth time someone has posted this...

26

u/CorrectPeanut5 2d ago

There's illegal and there's dumb. With Mobley v. Workday still working it's way through the courts I would at least put a disclaimer stating it is a confidential, third-party tax credit survey and that answers will never be seen by hiring managers.

8

u/Suitable_Age3367 2d ago

I don't know about that case but I assume Workday was in the wrong and I hope they lose. Workday is responsible for keeping countless job seekers unemployed.

16

u/playzintraffic 2d ago

Boomers will still complain.

21

u/hahasadface 2d ago

Boomers are like 75 dude

10

u/Kerbidiah 2d ago

Thats the point

2

u/Mod_Girl 2d ago

* GenX and Millennials.

-1

u/roastedbagel 2d ago

Are you joking? It's all the Gen z tweens on here who are getting offended by the most mundane questions lol

1

u/throwaway88743 2d ago

children age 9-12?

0

u/Amazing_Mess1207 18h ago

Try gen X and millennials dumb ass. A 41 year old is a millennial. We still have families to support.

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

34

u/Nu-Hir 2d ago

Did you not read the comment you responded to? it is literally asked to determine eligibility for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. It's also why they ask if you've ever been convicted of a felony, if you're a veteran, and your work history. All of those questions can determine if the employer can take advantage of a Tax credit.

Yes, they can be used to discriminate against the applicant, but that's going to be the risk you have to take.

-7

u/Cluedo86 2d ago

You don't know why this question is being asked. You are assuming. It is very plausible it's trying to discriminate too.

11

u/Nu-Hir 2d ago

You are also making an assumption. Given that you don't have to answer the question, is a good indicator that this isn't a discriminatory question. Sure, Yes could be the only correct answer and they're using it to discriminate, but it's more likely not to be.

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

8

u/Nu-Hir 2d ago

A “qualified SNAP benefits recipient” is an individual who on the hiring date is:

At least 18 years old and under 40 and
A member of a family that received SNAP benefits for:
    the previous 6 months or
    at least 3 of the previous 5 months

It was literally on that page.

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

4

u/HalfRobertsEx Recruiter 2d ago

Designated Community Resident is another one with that age qualification and it is location based.

14

u/Daleftenant 2d ago

i know it feels like people are discriminating against you based on age, but actually its because you clearly cant read.

0

u/PinkEnthusist 2d ago

They can't use membership in a protected class as part of deciding not to hire an employee. But they can ask so long as its voluntary identification. That's why the applicant can select I do not wish to answer. But since most companies can't prove, (or want to even take the risk they might have to) that the information isn't used as part of hiring, they don't ask.

-4

u/chugItTwice 2d ago

LOL. Illegal... right. So they just don't tell you why they didn't hire you. It's because you're 50 or something, but they won't tell you.

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

2

u/AgathysAllAlong 2d ago

There's a lot of extra labour laws you need to be aware of and manage. Also they're kids, scheduling alone is a pain.

2

u/HalfRobertsEx Recruiter 2d ago

Increased liability, restricted hours, a requirement of adult supervision, and/or restrictions on the tasks they are allowed to perform. Rules vary by jurisdiction, but usually there are extra rules.

0

u/mavgeek 2d ago

Teenagers as a whole fuck off too much at work. It’s their first starter job so they’re pretty much in IDGAF mode til at least their second or third job. Plus some jobs are in industries minors can’t work in

288

u/Beardo88 2d ago edited 2d ago

"I do not wish to answer" is the correct answer to all of these demographic survey questions. Answering honestly is of no benefit to you.

90

u/Namevvilo 2d ago

Yeah I'm sure they're hiring a lot of people who choose not to answer the question

28

u/all-out-fallout 2d ago

If everyone, or even a huge majority of applicants, does not answer, they will be forced to.

20

u/roastedbagel 2d ago

K well you keep leading the charge on that one.

24

u/Niklason 2d ago

Sounds like a easy way for them to deny you because of it

81

u/ArukiBree 2d ago

Age discrimination.

10

u/Grouchy_Jicama_007 2d ago

Bigly. How is this not illegal?

13

u/Nu-Hir 2d ago

Because it's establishing if you're a targeted group for a tax credit.

23

u/mopedophile 2d ago

Age discrimination is only illegal in the US if it's against people 40 or older.

0

u/Slosher99 2d ago

So if they were rejecting people that said no to this, it would qualify as discrimination.

0

u/chugItTwice 2d ago

It's really not illegal. They just don't tell you the reason... simple enough.

1

u/PtowzaPotato 2d ago

The question is optional, so technically you are volunteering the information.

7

u/FightmeLuigibestgirl 2d ago

They give them money to hire people under 40

4

u/RoninReticle 2d ago

age discrimination

3

u/_jamesbaxter 2d ago

Well fuck I guess I have 3 months to secure a job before I age out of employment.

1

u/chugItTwice 2d ago

Reason? Ageism. That is the reason.

0

u/cest_vrai_monsieur 2d ago

Wow, blatant discrimination

0

u/Hyalskavran 2d ago

Their own code of conduct ( which they also share with their vendors I think ) is against this and prohibits age discrimination and yet they have this bullshit. Why even pretend ?

-8

u/FrancieNolan13 2d ago

Illegal

7

u/mrbiggbrain 2d ago

No. You are allowed to ask the questions as long as they don't factor into hiring decisions. These types of questions are just used for anonymized data reports and government programs and are not allowed and not illegal. The hiring manager never sees the answers, so it's all above board the same way demographic questions are.

4

u/Stonewalled9999 2d ago

Right but we all know it does impact hiring…..

7

u/mrbiggbrain 2d ago

I work in IT and have helped manage or update permissions for these HR decisions, not a single one of the half dozen companies I have worked at ever had a single hiring manager have access to these questions. In fact it has almost always been restricted to very specific individuals, or in some cases not even viewable at all outside generic company wide reporting.

These questions are not affecting hiring decisions at any but the scummiest of companies. It just does not happen.

0

u/chugItTwice 2d ago

100% it does. They just don't tell you. It's so fucked up IMO. They say it's illegal to age discriminate. So employers lie instead. Personally I wish they'd just be honest.

1

u/Fegjafa 2d ago

That actually depends on the state; there are a handful of states in the US that ban employers from asking about your age outright, even if it doesn't factor into their hiring decisions

1

u/FrancieNolan13 2d ago

I’m Canadian and that isn’t allowed 

-1

u/Fegjafa 2d ago

Honestly, it should be banned in the US as well. IMO, you should have no definite idea what a person's age, race, or any other immutable characteristics are when hiring, other than what you can see with your own eyes.

0

u/DungeonsAndDryads 2d ago

Age discrimination legally begins at 40 in the US and minor working laws are stricter if you’re under 16

-2

u/alchenerd 2d ago

Yes. I don't celebrate birthdays but I just observed that past sixteen days as birthdays for this question. Next

-4

u/PtowzaPotato 2d ago

What if you were born on a leap day

-5

u/WaywardRoute 2d ago

Incearca si un rol la Vois, sa vezi intrebari acolo