The Energon Pub

Can someone please explain to me why they now ask for your political views when at a job interview? I've had 3 interviews since I got laid off, and all 3 of them asked me what my political views are. should their decision on your job skills, and not how you feel about stuff?

I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

Professor Smooth wrote:I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

Those companies certainly need to be taught a lesson; but you should make sure the mony went to a trustworth charity instead of keeping it for yourself.

Professor Smooth wrote:I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

The excellence of America...

I'm a political intern, and I didn't even get asked what my opinions were!

Professor Smooth wrote:I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

Indeed. No employer can ask you to outline your political views, nor can they make a hiring decision based on them. Should they give you nonsense such as "Oh, this information you share won't impact our decision," call them on it and remind them of your rights.

well it is pretty stupid if you are trying to joiinn the conservative party whe you are a labour supporter

i' not sure that you can blanket it like that, i mean if you work in a lab that uses animal testing, you don't really want to employ someone belonging to the militant animal rights group.

or a pro-lifer in an abortion clinic.

or a member of alqueda in airport security.

Decepticon Spike wrote:Can someone please explain to me why they now ask for your political views when at a job interview? I've had 3 interviews since I got laid off, and all 3 of them asked me what my political views are. should their decision on your job skills, and not how you feel about stuff?

What were the three jobs, because Tammuz is right.

Professor Smooth wrote:I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

I would have thought this too, but after much searching I've found nothing that makes this forbidden by employers to ask. There are other questions they cannot ask, such as religion, sex, disabilities, age, or race - since all of these are equated to discrimination (though there can be exceptions to most of these depending on the job you applying for). Most of these questions are asked as a part of a survey taken after the application process which is supposed to have no bearing on their decision to hire you and is only supposed to be used for federal purposes.

As stated before, depending on who the employer is, it may be against their agenda to hire someone who is against their values.

Sometimes this question is asked to throw a curve ball at you during an interview. This is mainly to see how you would react to an unexpected situation, more than a political compass.

Professor Smooth wrote:I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

Hehe My friend told me that yesterday.

DesalationReborn wrote:

Professor Smooth wrote:I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

The excellence of America...

I'm a political intern, and I didn't even get asked what my opinions were!

I'm taking a political class this term. Mind if I PM you with a few questions about politics?

Loki120 wrote:

Professor Smooth wrote:I have good news for you. You don't have to work anymore. Simply sue all three places for asking such questions on their applications and enjoy the sweet life that the American Legal System will provide you.

I would have thought this too, but after much searching I've found nothing that makes this forbidden by employers to ask. There are other questions they cannot ask, such as religion, sex, disabilities, age, or race - since all of these are equated to discrimination (though there can be exceptions to most of these depending on the job you applying for). Most of these questions are asked as a part of a survey taken after the application process which is supposed to have no bearing on their decision to hire you and is only supposed to be used for federal purposes.

As stated before, depending on who the employer is, it may be against their agenda to hire someone who is against their values.

Sometimes this question is asked to throw a curve ball at you during an interview. This is mainly to see how you would react to an unexpected situation, more than a political compass.

Wrong when I was at the Vo-Tech I had to take a course called Job Seeking Skills. Political affiliation is one of the things they are not suppost to ask you about; the only exception is as Tammuz pointed out if you were applying to one of the political groups.

Dark Zarak wrote:

Decepticon Spike wrote:Can someone please explain to me why they now ask for your political views when at a job interview? I've had 3 interviews since I got laid off, and all 3 of them asked me what my political views are. should their decision on your job skills, and not how you feel about stuff?

What were the three jobs, because Tammuz is right.

The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

Jar Axel wrote:Wrong when I was at the Vo-Tech I had to take a course called Job Seeking Skills. Political affiliation is one of the things they are not suppost to ask you about; the only exception is as Tammuz pointed out if you were applying to one of the political groups.

I'll be glad to admit that I'm wrong (and it's perfectly possible that I am) if you can show me one state law that says otherwise. If indeed, Decepticon Spike lives in Ohio, then show me an Ohio law. I couldn't find anything.

Decepticon Spike wrote:The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

Well, there you go. The first looks like what I said before, asking an off the wall question to see how you would respond to an unexpected situation. The other two are things that are directly related to the field your going into. Of course a airport security company is going to ask about the Patriot Act - someone whose rabidly against it may put the company on the spot by breaking rules. And universal healthcare is a direct interest to anyone in the healthcare industry. Local family practices are going to be the most impacted by it.

You can't discriminate someone on political beliefs. These companies have done a big no no. Who cares what political party you support.

Elita One wrote:You can't discriminate someone on political beliefs. These companies have done a big no no. Who cares what political party you support.

oh yes you can, it's called democracy, and every voter does it each time there's an election.

when your political beleifs affect your job performance, the employer is well within his rights to not hire you based on your beleifs

it's akin to not hiring someone whose paralysed below the neck for the position of pianist, yeah it's discrimating against the disabled, but he probably can't competently do his job, and it would be rather silly to hire them in the first place.

Loki120 wrote:

Jar Axel wrote:Wrong when I was at the Vo-Tech I had to take a course called Job Seeking Skills. Political affiliation is one of the things they are not suppost to ask you about; the only exception is as Tammuz pointed out if you were applying to one of the political groups.

I'll be glad to admit that I'm wrong (and it's perfectly possible that I am) if you can show me one state law that says otherwise. If indeed, Decepticon Spike lives in Ohio, then show me an Ohio law. I couldn't find anything.

Decepticon Spike wrote:The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

Well, there you go. The first looks like what I said before, asking an off the wall question to see how you would respond to an unexpected situation. The other two are things that are directly related to the field your going into. Of course a airport security company is going to ask about the Patriot Act - someone whose rabidly against it may put the company on the spot by breaking rules. And universal healthcare is a direct interest to anyone in the healthcare industry. Local family practices are going to be the most impacted by it.

I could nbot find anytihng about asking political beliefs on a job. The closest thing I could find was an old law pre-dating the Civil War saying that a worker could not be fired for voting a way different from their boss.

Decepticon Spike wrote:

Loki120 wrote:

Jar Axel wrote:Wrong when I was at the Vo-Tech I had to take a course called Job Seeking Skills. Political affiliation is one of the things they are not suppost to ask you about; the only exception is as Tammuz pointed out if you were applying to one of the political groups.

I'll be glad to admit that I'm wrong (and it's perfectly possible that I am) if you can show me one state law that says otherwise. If indeed, Decepticon Spike lives in Ohio, then show me an Ohio law. I couldn't find anything.

Decepticon Spike wrote:The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

Well, there you go. The first looks like what I said before, asking an off the wall question to see how you would respond to an unexpected situation. The other two are things that are directly related to the field your going into. Of course a airport security company is going to ask about the Patriot Act - someone whose rabidly against it may put the company on the spot by breaking rules. And universal healthcare is a direct interest to anyone in the healthcare industry. Local family practices are going to be the most impacted by it.

I could nbot find anytihng about asking political beliefs on a job. The closest thing I could find was an old law pre-dating the Civil War saying that a worker could not be fired for voting a way different from their boss.

It's just one of those things that you are going to be asked if there is the possibility that it could affect your job performance. Really, outside of the Hitler/Bush comparison (which I could understand depending on the context), I don't see anything out of line with those other two questions and the jobs they pertain to.

Loki120 wrote:

Decepticon Spike wrote:

Loki120 wrote:

Jar Axel wrote:Wrong when I was at the Vo-Tech I had to take a course called Job Seeking Skills. Political affiliation is one of the things they are not suppost to ask you about; the only exception is as Tammuz pointed out if you were applying to one of the political groups.

I'll be glad to admit that I'm wrong (and it's perfectly possible that I am) if you can show me one state law that says otherwise. If indeed, Decepticon Spike lives in Ohio, then show me an Ohio law. I couldn't find anything.

Decepticon Spike wrote:The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

Well, there you go. The first looks like what I said before, asking an off the wall question to see how you would respond to an unexpected situation. The other two are things that are directly related to the field your going into. Of course a airport security company is going to ask about the Patriot Act - someone whose rabidly against it may put the company on the spot by breaking rules. And universal healthcare is a direct interest to anyone in the healthcare industry. Local family practices are going to be the most impacted by it.

I could nbot find anytihng about asking political beliefs on a job. The closest thing I could find was an old law pre-dating the Civil War saying that a worker could not be fired for voting a way different from their boss.

It's just one of those things that you are going to be asked if there is the possibility that it could affect your job performance. Really, outside of the Hitler/Bush comparison (which I could understand depending on the context), I don't see anything out of line with those other two questions and the jobs they pertain to.

The last two jobs would certainly fall under the exeption as political views would affect job performance. As for the first; that one is certainly off the wall and should not have been asked.

As for showing you give me a few days to find my old course materials; I don't remember whay I did with them when I fineshed the course (Yes I was allowed to keep them as they were a school reproduction)

Loki120 wrote:

Decepticon Spike wrote:

Loki120 wrote:

Jar Axel wrote:Wrong when I was at the Vo-Tech I had to take a course called Job Seeking Skills. Political affiliation is one of the things they are not suppost to ask you about; the only exception is as Tammuz pointed out if you were applying to one of the political groups.

I'll be glad to admit that I'm wrong (and it's perfectly possible that I am) if you can show me one state law that says otherwise. If indeed, Decepticon Spike lives in Ohio, then show me an Ohio law. I couldn't find anything.

Decepticon Spike wrote:The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

Well, there you go. The first looks like what I said before, asking an off the wall question to see how you would respond to an unexpected situation. The other two are things that are directly related to the field your going into. Of course a airport security company is going to ask about the Patriot Act - someone whose rabidly against it may put the company on the spot by breaking rules. And universal healthcare is a direct interest to anyone in the healthcare industry. Local family practices are going to be the most impacted by it.

I could nbot find anytihng about asking political beliefs on a job. The closest thing I could find was an old law pre-dating the Civil War saying that a worker could not be fired for voting a way different from their boss.

It's just one of those things that you are going to be asked if there is the possibility that it could affect your job performance. Really, outside of the Hitler/Bush comparison (which I could understand depending on the context), I don't see anything out of line with those other two questions and the jobs they pertain to.

Can you explain the Hitler/Bush one to me? It's still throwing me for a loop since it was for an overnight stocking job.

Decepticon Spike wrote:The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

That strikes me as being terribly odd -- though honestly, I'd be more interested in discussing any of those questions than going back and forth about how potential employers can or cannot ask sensitive questions without any concrete references to support either contention. I do understand how these questions could be more/less appropriate depending upon the context, though.

In any case, good luck finding employment soon!

Decepticon Spike wrote:Can you explain the Hitler/Bush one to me? It's still throwing me for a loop since it was for an overnight stocking job.

I can't be one hundred percent sure, but it sounds like they asked you an off the wall question to see how you would handle a situation where you would be put on the spot, or how you would handle an unexpected situation. It's not uncommon. I once had an employer asked me "If you could be any type of animal, what would you be?"

Wes Crayon wrote:

Decepticon Spike wrote:The first was a company that does overnight stocking for chain stores, and they asked me who I thought was more evil: Bush or Hitler. (Being 1/4 Jewish, I said Hitler)
The second was for a security job at the Columbus Airport, and they asked me how I felt about the Patorit Act, and the third was at a doctor's office for a receptionist job where I was asked how I felt about univerisal healthcare.

That strikes me as being terribly odd -- though honestly, I'd be more interested in discussing any of those questions than going back and forth about how potential employers can or cannot ask sensitive questions without any concrete references to support either contention. I do understand how these questions could be more/less appropriate depending upon the context, though.

In any case, good luck finding employment soon!

The last 2 kinda make sence to me, sinc ethe field I was applyign for would be affected by changes in national policy, but the Hitler/Bush one still has me confused.

Loki120 wrote:

Decepticon Spike wrote:Can you explain the Hitler/Bush one to me? It's still throwing me for a loop since it was for an overnight stocking job.

I can't be one hundred percent sure, but it sounds like they asked you an off the wall question to see how you would handle a situation where you would be put on the spot, or how you would handle an unexpected situation. It's not uncommon. I once had an employer asked me "If you could be any type of animal, what would you be?"

Makes sence....just damned odd, IMO.