Job Application Form: State your sexuality. Me: Why does that even matter?

[Parasondox]

If I was truly desperate for that stockbroker job, I might even circle "Homosexual" because they're most likely going to hire the gay guy, all other things being equal, so they can boast about their progressive hiring procedure.

Otherwise, I would probably write "asexual" underneath and circle that, because it's the most honest option at this point (and seriously, screw that question).

Yeah screw that question but you sir/madame just won the "WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH YOU AND THAT SCARY ASS PROFILE PIC!!! I HATE YOU NOW *goes off and cries in a corner in fear*" Award. Congrats.

But seriously though damn that's scary and haunting to those who suffer from arachnophobia. I like.

 

[And Man]

Not sure about other countries, but I'm pretty sure that's an illegal question in the US.

No, they're allowed to ask it on the application for diversity stuff, like other people have said. It is illegal to ask during an interview though

 

[sir neillios]

It's pretty much the norm here in Northern Ireland, we have had the whole sectarian wars since the trouble and now literally any job from an agency or a large company I've applied for has required a separate page where you mark your age, gender, protestant/catholic/neither, and sometimes sexuality.

I like to believe that discrimination doesn't happen, but as a liberal, non-denominational Christian with secular preferences for society as a whole, I don't know how many people share my thought processes.

 

[OneCatch]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaamn its hot like Cleopatra in Egypt.

Looking for jobs is a pain. Filling out the application form is boring and uneventful. Filling out the same thing over and over again for different roles. On computer its fine. Copy and paste or just Google auto filler (Thank Google for that) but by paper, how many times do I need to right why I chose to apply for this job and often times I lie cause I truly want to say "I'M BROKE AND I NEED MONEY". Thats just the norm. What I noticed today, and to be honest once before, were new and interesting questions.

State your sexual orientation

Heterosexual
Homosexual
Bisexual

Why does a job that involve stocktaking need to know this? To put it into some sort or statistic and to get some sort of recognition that they are hiring LGBT workers? Should I be an extremely cynical Brit here and say maybe they do it to cross certain applicants off this list. That's a dark dark thought but it could happen.

Should a work know about your sex life and sexuality? I believe they shouldn't but I know some in the world may disagree.

What do you think and have you seen this elsewhere before?

In the UK it's generally because of equality concerns. Generally the people deciding which applications to pick won't see that section - it's used after a decision is made to collate the relative hiring practices of the organisation.

In this case was it a different part of the application to your main 'hire me' spiel, perhaps amongst a load of questions about ethnicity, religion, and so on? If so, it's almost certainly the above scenario.

If not; and it was mixed in with the main body of your application, I'd be a little uncomfortable with it. In the UK you are under no obligation to respond to such queries - similarly you are under no obligation to disclose your age, marital status, partners, religion, or even political views[footnote]With a few exceptions regarding membership to extreme right organisations and certain public sector jobs[/footnote]. So if you don't want to answer such questions or suspect that it will disadvantage you, don't answer.

One thing I would expect is a 'Do not wish to disclose' option - that's standard practise when asking such questions, the omission of which is a bit odd. Could just be an honest mistake though.
I'm quite curious though; what company is this application for? (don't answer if you don't want, I'm just curious)

And yeah, it's bloody boiling even here in Wales.

 

[Greg White]

Not sure about other countries, but I'm pretty sure that's an illegal question in the US.

I think as some said, most states have different laws and this situation I came across was in the UK. Also is the "don't ask don't tell" policy only enforced (I think) in the US Army or elsewhere.

DADT was done away with in the US military a few years ago, not sure about elsewhere.

 

[Dimitriov]

I'm pretty sure it is against the law to ask someone that on a job application here in Canada.

Why do they need to know? The only possible, actual reason I can think of for asking that question is to discriminate against people. The information isn't really relevant to a potential employer in any way.

 

[Call me Baz]

This is required to give companies an answer to any claims of discrimination based on these grounds. Technically, nationality doesn't matter (outside of the "Are you allowed to work in [country]" issue), but they need to be able to prove that they're NOT racist/bigoted/etc.

While yes it could be used in a manner of the complete opposite way, it gives a bit of pause to those that would attempt this sort of discrimination - the question they need to sort those they dislike from those they like is also monitored for that type of behaviour. Think of an illegal site being found and hijacked, but staying active for a short while after to log those who use it. Some people think of this as a necessary evil, and likely some of those some people are in charge of making laws and regulations.

 

[Lieju]

Asexual people don't exist, then? Weren't there even 'other' category?

That sort of stuff shouldn't be taken into account for hiring, but if it's for statistics and the info won't get into wrong hands and if it's inpersonal, I don't see the problem.

That being said, considering some of the attitudes I've ran into in some of my jobs(Gay jokes, questions about my political beliefs etc.), I'd rather not tell them I'm gay during the hiring process anyway.

I'm not going to actively hide it, but it's also not something they need to know when hiring me.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaamn its hot like Cleopatra in Egypt.

Looking for jobs is a pain. Filling out the application form is boring and uneventful. Filling out the same thing over and over again for different roles. On computer its fine. Copy and paste or just Google auto filler (Thank Google for that) but by paper, how many times do I need to right why I chose to apply for this job and often times I lie cause I truly want to say "I'M BROKE AND I NEED MONEY". Thats just the norm. What I noticed today, and to be honest once before, were new and interesting questions.

State your sexual orientation

Heterosexual
Homosexual
Bisexual

Why does a job that involve stocktaking need to know this? To put it into some sort or statistic and to get some sort of recognition that they are hiring LGBT workers? Should I be an extremely cynical Brit here and say maybe they do it to cross certain applicants off this list. That's a dark dark thought but it could happen.

Should a work know about your sex life and sexuality? I believe they shouldn't but I know some in the world may disagree.

What do you think and have you seen this elsewhere before?

Personally, I think the first REAL step in getting rid of racism, sexism, genderism, etc. etc. would be started right here. All that should matter on a resume should be if you are old enough to work, and how qualified you are, and that should be the ONLY things that are on the resume. Anyone hiring would simply compare qualifications and hire solely based off of that. If I had MY own business, thats exactly what I would do. It doesnt matter if they are white, black, yellow, purple, old, young, male, female, straight, gay, blah blah blah... you would get hired if you had the qualifications that the hiring company is seeking, end of story.

Oh, and you need to be a citizen of said country where you would be applying, unless the job calls for something otherwise.

 

[Micalas]

My girlfriend is pansexual. Guess she can't answer.

And before you ask, yes, that means she's sexually attracted to pans.

 

[Barbas]

The only reason I can think of is that the company in question is worried about you sexually harassing their employees. You could always tell 'em you're not interested in that by writing 'Go fuck yourselves'.

Personally, I just fill in whatever crap I like. Sometimes I cross those choices out and write a different one to annoy whoever decided it would be a good idea to put in those questions.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

Actually, its still irrelevant in porn. A very large amount of people working in gay porn are heterosexual.

That must suck *har har*.
Yeah they often have to work their way up to straight porn.

 

[Something Amyss]

I always just fill it in as anything other than straight, reckon it'll increase my chances because of token diversity hires.

It'd sort of be hilarious if their work force became like 92% gay based on these results.

 

[Something Amyss]

Asexual people don't exist, then? Weren't there even 'other' category?

Honestly, I'm surprised they included bisexuals. Bisexuals are still treated as just this side of unicorns in a large chunk of the western world.

Personally, I think the first REAL step in getting rid of racism, sexism, genderism, etc. etc. would be started right here. All that should matter on a resume should be if you are old enough to work, and how qualified you are, and that should be the ONLY things that are on the resume. Anyone hiring would simply compare qualifications and hire solely based off of that. If I had MY own business, thats exactly what I would do. It doesnt matter if they are white, black, yellow, purple, old, young, male, female, straight, gay, blah blah blah... you would get hired if you had the qualifications that the hiring company is seeking, end of story.

Oh, and you need to be a citizen of said country where you would be applying, unless the job calls for something otherwise.

In fairness, we're talking on a board with a lot of people not from the US. Our idea of at-will employment seems to be somewhat odd, possibly unique.

Yeah they often have to work their way up to straight porn.

Not really. They tend to get paid more to do gay porn. A lot more, from my understanding.

 

[Parasondox]

One thing I would expect is a 'Do not wish to disclose' option - that's standard practise when asking such questions, the omission of which is a bit odd. Could just be an honest mistake though.
I'm quite curious though; what company is this application for? (don't answer if you don't want, I'm just curious)

And yeah, it's bloody boiling even here in Wales.

A stock taking company. Basically they check stocked goods for several business to make sure they are correct, not illegal, up to date and other sorts. I don't see how sexuality would be factor in that.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

I honestly don't feel anything matters beyond your competence or lack thereof at the job. Everything else is just "look at our statistics, we're diverse" self-congratulatory patting on the back. Last I checked, sexuality, race or gender didn't preclude anyone from being able to perform a job (not counting modeling clothing or other apparel as gender is kinda important there).

 

[shootthebandit]

And before you ask, yes, that means she's sexually attracted to pans.

Im a pansexual that's into exhibitionism with asians...I like to take a wok on wild side

on topic: I thought you could legally refuse to answer that question. I think most of them say "id rather not say"

 

[Supdupadog]

Asexual people don't exist, then? Weren't there even 'other' category?

Do people even need to know if someone is asexual?

I guess it's as important for HR to write down as the other stuff, but is there something important an office job has to accommodate for an asexual?