These Guidelines are a product of the NMFS, Southwest Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee (SW EEOAC).
| SUBJECT | ACCEPTABLE/BEST WAYS TO ASK QUESTIONS (Examples) | UNACCEPTABLE WAYS TO ASK QUESTIONS (Examples) | SOURCE |
| General Information | What is your: Name; mailing address; SSN; day and evening phone numbers; and email address, if any? | Do not as questions related to sexual orientation, height, weight, maiden name, etc. | Optional Form 612 & Stephanie Hall - 9th Annual HR/EEO Forum held in San Diego, 9/20/04; presented by FPMI Solutions. |
| Former Federal Service | None | If transferring within or reinstating back into federal service, what are your leave balances? (This could disclose situations like pregnancies; family care; temporary disability condition, etc.) | Stephanie Hall - 9th Annual HR/EEO Forum held in San Diego, 9/20/04; presented by FPMI Solutions. |
| Criminal Record | None | Have you ever been arrested? Have you been convicted of a criminal offense other than minor traffic violations? | Stephanie Hall - 9th Annual HR/EEO Forum held in San Diego, 9/20/04; presented by FPMI Solutions. |
| Religious Beliefs | This job requires you work on Saturdays. Do you know of anything that would keep you from working on Saturdays? | What religious holidays do you observe? | Stephanie Hall - 9th Annual HR/EEO Forum held in San Diego, 9/20/04; presented by FPMI Solutions. |
| National Origin/Citizenship | Are you a U.S. citizen? If no, can you provide the necessary documentation to authorize your employment within the United States? | Do not enter into casual conversation that could divulge personal information (i.e., "That's an interesting name [or accent], what is its origin?) | Optional Form 612 Stephanie Hall - 9th Annual HR/EEO Forum held in San Diego, 9/20/04; presented by FPMI Solutions. |
| Veteran Status | Do you claim veterans' preference? | Optional Form 612 | |
| Age | None | How old are you? When did you graduate from college? How long do you plan to work before retiring? | Todd Buccholz, former EEOAC Personnel Sub Committee member. |
| Affiliations | Do you belong to any clubs or social organizations that would be pertinent to this job? | To what clubs or social organizations do you belong? | Todd Buccholz, former EEOAC Personnel Sub Committee member. |
| Disabilities | Do you have any disabilities? ------------------------------------------------ What makes you think you can really do this job if you're drawing disability? Do you have_______________(ex., diabetes)? Do you use prescription drugs (ex., insulin)? | OEDCA DIGEST, Vol. VII, No. 2, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, Spring 2004 Summaries of Selected Decisions Issued by the Office of Employment Discrimination Complaint Adjudication From the Director (Case Summaries, Article: Q&A's: Diabetes in the Workplace, 10 OEDCA DIGEST 3I.) | |
| Work Experience | If currently employed, describe your current duties and accomplishments. ------------------------------------- What were your duties and do you have notable accomplishments from past jobs? ------------------------------------- Can we contact your current/past employers? | Optional Form 612 |