Is an employer allowed to ask you about your personal life?
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Is an employer allowed to ask you about your personal life?
Marraige
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Asked on December 16, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Illinois
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, they can ask you unless the way they are doing becomes harassment or discrimination against you due to sex (e.g. sexual harassment: the employer wants to have relations with you) under either federal or state law, or harassment or discrimination against you due to your sexual orientation or marital status (under your state's law). If the question rise to this level, of being harassment one of these bases, it is illegal, and you could contact the Illinois Department of Human Rights to file a complaint.
But if a reasonable person would not conclude these questions are harassment, but are simply conversation, that is allowed. It is not asking about or discussing these matters that is itself illegal--it is harassming due to them.
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