hiring practice regarding race and gender

[rjhoward]

Location: IN
I was told to put a sticky note on new applications stating the race and gender so that this information can be logged into a database. Our Corporate HQ, in MO handed down this new procedure. They want to make sure we hire so many minorities so that we do not get sued for discrimination. Is it legal to put this information on the applications?

 

[Beth3]

Yes, it's legal.

Many employers have to track the race and gender of their applicants to comply with Affirmative Action Plan requirements. An employer may either obtain that info by asking candidates to complete a brief form stating their age, race, gender, etc. (which of course is an odd thing to do when you're also trying to assure candidates you don't discriminate in the recruitng process) or obtain that information by "visual survey" when the candidate applies. Hence, the sticky note. Once that data is entered, the note can be and should be destroyed.

Obtaining that type of information is not a problem. It's what the employer does with it (or what the candidate THINKS an employer does with it) that can cause problems.