Job applicants warned about discriminating questions

Job applicants have been advised by one watchdog about the questions an employer can or cannot ask in an interview.

Which? has released new guidelines in the form of a handbook to jobseekers who may be unsure of legal issues in the recruitment process.

This follows recent advice from law firm Nabarro that stated companies could actually be breaching anti-discrimination laws in a bid to enhance diversity during the recruitment process.

Employers may be breaking the laws if they ask a candidate about their religion, sexuality, marital status or political views, Which? stated.

Despite such questions being common in the past, recruiters that do not focus on an applicant's ability to do the job could face being fined.

Sue Tumelty from the organisation advised candidates on how to handle question that could be deemed unlawful.

'It helps to be aware of what you can and cannot be asked, so that you can feel confident in politely declining to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable,' she advised.

She added that bosses have 'no business' asking such questions.