Going through the hiring process can be long and tiring. There are many stages to get through, often involving different interviews and eventually the onboarding experience to get you situated in your company. The better prepared you are, the better your chances of getting hired. Here are some legal aspects of the job process you should keep in mind.
Job History
When you are applying for a job, one of the many things they will ask for is references. This is completely legal and it is something that employers will use to determine if you are a good fit based on your previous work experience. Of course, not everyone will have the same or sufficient work experience prior to certain job applications, and in which case, potential employers will provide evidence of your qualifications, whether that is through your educational background as well as certification to verify your levels of understanding, knowledge, and capability. When you are applying for certain jobs, in addition to listing your previous experiences, employers will also ask you to provide contact information for them to connect with your references and see what others have to say about you. Be prepared with this necessary information and you will make the interview and application process much more efficient.
Criminal Background Check
For certain jobs, companies will do background checks on candidates for some positions. This often has to deal with the environment, the people that you are working with, and role you have with your company or the job. If you work at all with children, you will most definitely be subject to such background checks. However, if you are not working in an environment where your criminal history should play a factor in your hiring, it will be up to the discretion of the company to do certain checks or not. Additionally, if companies are doing checks, they must do them with all employees, and cannot discriminate on who they choose to check, as this would be a cause for legal claims.
Social Security
Companies will require a form of government identification that classifies you as legal to work in your country or state. This often comes in the form of your social security. This ensures that the company is abiding by legal policies to maintain their financials, and also determines that you are permitted to live and work in the place that you are seeking employment. Businesses that pay their employees under the table, with cash, may be doing so to hide their finances and avoid paying certain taxes. Of course, it is not illegal to pay employees in cash, and not necessarily translating to tax avoidance. Most companies will ask you for banking information in order to pay you appropriately as well, so it is a good idea to have that prepared to expedite your hiring process, and of course get paid on time.
Health Concerns
There are many jobs that require you to be physically fit in order to be able to accomplish the tasks needed for their jobs. Especially when you are talking about work that is physically demanding, health is a huge concern for companies. During the hiring and application process, you may be asked to complete a pre employment assessment. This ensures that companies are not legally liable if something were to occur to you while you are on the job, whether that results in injury or in some cases death. Depending on the job, you may also be putting other people in harm’s way if something were to happen when you are operating certain machinery or equipment that can be hazardous to those around you. It is important that during the application and hiring process that you inform your employers of health issues you have, as well as keep them updated if certain injuries, sicknesses, illnesses, or other concerns arise during your employment. You also want to always inform your employers of health risks, even if they may not apply to the job, such as allergies, as it is important that others can ensure your safety while at work.
Health And Safety Protocols And Training
During the hiring process, for your job application, you may be required to have certain training in order to handle different materials, chemicals, equipment, and machinery. For larger equipment, you need to show proper certification, as well as go through the proper training to ensure that you are able to handle your machines and equipment with safety. This will show your employers that you are capable of working both efficiently and safely. In certain environments, you will be dealing with chemicals, and although you may not need to go through a hands-on training course, you will still need to complete certain courses, whether in person or online, to show that you understand how to handle such material. These training courses will also need to be periodically completed every few years to ensure that employees are reminded of safe handling techniques.
What Employers Are Not Allowed To Ask
During the application process, some of the things that employers are not allowed to ask you for include your age, gender, how you identify, ethnicity, where you are from, marital status, sexuality, if you have any disabilities, or religion. This is important because any of these factors can be used during the selection and application process as a way to discriminate against you. If an employer does ask for any of this information, you have the right to refuse to provide it to them as it does not pertain to your ability to work or affect your status as a candidate. Of course, certain jobs may have specific requirements that can be affected by these factors, such as people that have families may not be as able or willing to work certain or extended hours. However, companies should be responsible enough to phrase their questions accordingly in a professional manner.
It is a good idea to prepare yourself for your applications and get comfortable with what to expect, as this will ensure that you are able to provide the necessary information to your employers, increasing the likelihood of getting a job. This will save you time and energy, trying to get the necessary information to give to your employer, and shows your preparedness and seriousness.
