Color Coding Job Aplications... legal?

I went into a family video store to rent a movie and over heard a converstation between a girl putting a job application in and the manager. The conversation went something like this. (man.) What times are you able to work? (girl) I'm free pretty much all the time. (man.) How old are you? (girl) I'm 18 believe it or not. (man.) and you really don't have any work history? (girl) no I really don't. (man.) ok well we will be calling people by 5pm on fri... so all that isn't really what got me mad it was after the girl walked out, the manager turns to another co worker and says put her name on the list and highlight her yellow, I would say highlight her green because she has no work history but she's cute, and seemed to have some kind of personality so highlight her yellow. I went to the counter and here is this list of those who have applied two marked green and one yellow. Maybe I'm wrong but I thought it was illigal to put ANY markings when dealing with job applications?

mj69catz

I am not aware of any law regarding marking the applications. Doing so because she is cute? That might be an issue.

One thing that is important when turning in an application/resume is being dressed appropriately for the job. Also, personality if she will be working with the customers. So making a note of the first impression is not so bad.

If this is a chain store, you may want to contact someone at the corporate office and let them know, as they may not be aware of the discrimination -- but I don't think you can take it farther than that (unless you have a friend on that list with experience and personality who is not so cute and they are a green and don't get called. )

Erik N

i dought it illegal. that is just there way of keep things organized. the apps he things are good and the ones that arent

personality is something that could make or break you gettting a job and it is not illegal because you could try to change your personality. you cant change your race, etc.

mommyme

I don't know if that specifically is illegal - since he was marking if they were "perky " or not. But if he was marking based on age or race it would be

Wiz

Color coding is no different from making notes with a pen, it just makes it easier for the manager to see what his initial reactions were more quickly. As long as he is not making judgments based on Federally protected areas, this is a smart thing to do since it is more efficient.

just me

I know that when I used to work at a salon, we would put a little star on the app if the applicant looked presentable and seemed like a good match for us...then those would be the ones that would get called in for an interview...The reason we did this, is that we were a high end salon, and when someone came in w/ sweats on and greasy, no style hair, we knew that they would not fit in to the type of environment that we represented...yes, maybe that was wrong, but give me a break...if you are coming in for an application, you should look presentable...

Barkley Hound

Of course an employer has every right to write or mark an application to indicate the result of the interview. As long as he is not indicating race, religion or any other characteristic that is against the law there is no problem.

swim2win

It's just a reminder...calm down

Owlwings

It sounds to me as if it was more of an interview (a rather informal one, it's true) than merely a job application. When the manager said that they would be calling people by 5pm on Friday, I guess he meant that they would have made their selection by then.

I think that one IS allowed to note the results of an interview - otherwise how would one remember from a list of candidates which one seemed the most suitable?

shelcom

Why do so many people think everything an employer does is illegal?????
Color coding is perfectly legal as long as its not done according to race, religion, or age.

hootie

I agree one hundred precent with you. I think if it's not illegal it should be. I was in a restaurant one time and a guy was applying and it was female manager. She said 'We don't have anything for you right now all we need is someone to work the counter." I thought 'so you're saying a man can't work the counter???' That's just bogus. It really would depend on what his color coding meant though...

hr4me

All business' use some kind of system when accepting resumes or applications to indicate candidates who will be interviewed or considered further, and those who will not fit. Using a pen to highlight the name is not illegal or bad. Interviewers make notes on job applications all the time. Questions they have, information that is given in an interview.

ScreeHerb

No, technically it's not illegal. When employers use job boards, (such as Hotjobs, Careerbuilder, etc), the recruiters can rate resumes as they view them. This is used as a method to help organize the resumes they view. They should be rating them by the job seekers qualifications, not by gender & race.

If you wanted to report this to the owners of this video store this manager will most likely be reprimanded, possibly fired...especially if this is a chain store.

Mr. Bugsme

Why is it any of your business? Are you applying?

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