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What you can do -
What you can ask -
Guidelines for employers on
pre-employment inquiries and
The Human Rights Code (Manitoba)
Introduction
This guide is the Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s interpretation of
provisions of The Human Rights Code with respect to “pre-employment inquiries.”
It is subject to the specific language of The Code, and to interpretations by
adjudicators and the courts.
What is The Human Rights Code?
The Human Rights Code (“The Code”) is Manitoba’s provincial human rights law,
which protects individuals and groups in Manitoba from discrimination. It is
administered by the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.
What is discrimination in employment?
Discrimination in employment under The Human Rights Code is treating a person or
group differently, to their disadvantage and without reasonable cause, on the
basis of a protected characteristic, such as ancestry or age. Failure to
reasonably accommodate a special need that is based on a protected
characteristic, such as disability or religion, is also discriminatory.
The Code prohibits unreasonable discrimination in all aspects of employment,
including hiring, regardless of whether or not the discrimination is
intentional.
How does The Code apply to employment?
The Code applies to all aspects of employment, including:
• recruitment practices (for example, job postings, advertising, application
forms, and interviews);
• working conditions (including fringe benefits, wages, lay-offs, suspensions,
dress codes, employee benefit plans, training, and seniority);
• promotions and dismissals; and
• employment agency referrals.
What are the “protected characteristics” under The Code?
Protected characteristics or grounds under The Code are ancestry (including
colour and perceived race); nationality or national origin; religion or creed;
ethnic background or origin; age; sex (including pregnancy and gender identity);
gender-determined characteristics or circumstances; sexual orientation; marital
or family status; source of income; political belief; and physical or mental
disability.
Unreasonable discrimination on the basis of a criminal record can also form the
basis of a complaint.
Who does the prohibition against discrimination in employment apply to?
All persons using employment application forms or making pre-employment
inquiries in Manitoba are subject to The Human Rights Code (with the exception
of those who fall under federal jurisdiction). Examples include:
• employers that fall under provincial jurisdiction;
• recruiters operating in Manitoba;
• any employment agency, service, educational institution or third party
requested by an employer to refer candidates, with or without a fee;
• any trade union, occupational association, or employer's organization in which
membership is a prerequisite to carry on a trade, occupation profession;
• the Government of Manitoba, crown agencies municipal governments, school
divisions, planning, health and social services, health authorities and
community councils; and
• most agencies engaging people for unpaid or volunteer work.
Under The Code, employers may be held responsible for the actions of their
employees.
How can I ensure equality of opportunity when I hire?
To ensure equality of opportunity in your hiring process, focus on the essential
duties of the job and evaluate the individual qualifications of each applicant
without relying on group generalizations or stereotypes.
Special needs of applicants which are based on protected characteristics, such
as disability or religion, must also be reasonably accommodated. For example, if
an applicant advises you that they cannot attend a job interview on the date you
have scheduled because it falls on a day of religious observance, reasonably
accommodate their request for alternate arrangements, to the point of undue
hardship.
The Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in employment unless it is based
upon “bona fide and reasonable requirements or qualifications for the employment
or occupation”.
What are “bona fide and reasonable occupational requirements or qualifications”?
“Bona fide and reasonable occupational requirements or qualifications” are
requirements or qualifications for the job that are required in good faith and
are reasonably necessary to the safe and efficient performance of the employment
or occupation.
Use your application and hiring process to select persons on the basis of
genuine qualifications that are relevant to job performance. When you consider
whether an applicant can meet bona fide and reasonable occupational requirements
or qualifications for the employment, keep in mind that you must first
reasonably accommodate special needs which are based on disability, religion or
other protected characteristics under The Human Rights Code, to the point of
undue hardship.
What about the application form?
Questions on the job application form can raise concerns under The Human Rights
Code. If information requested on your employment application form might reveal
the age, sex, ancestry, marital or family status, or other protected
characteristic of an applicant, make sure that the requested information is
necessary to a determination of whether or not the applicant has the necessary
skills and abilities to carry out the essential duties of the job.
A requirement that all applications for employment must be submitted online also
raises potential human rights concerns. Such a requirement can create barriers
for persons whose disadvantaged social condition or disability makes accessing
and using computer and internet technology very difficult or not possible.
What are my rights as an employer?
Employers have the right to define qualifications necessary for satisfactory job
performance provided that these standards are bona fide and reasonable
occupational requirements or qualifications.
To avoid unreasonably restricting employment opportunities for a group or class
of persons protected by The Human Rights Code, ensure that any standards,
policies or rules that you adopt for the employment:
1) are rationally connected to the performance of the job;
2) are adopted in an honest and good faith belief that they are necessary to the
fulfillment of a legitimate work-related purpose; and
3) are reasonably necessary to accomplish the legitimate work-related purpose.
If a standard, rule or policy that you are using might have a discriminatory
effect, rely on an alternative approach that does not have a discriminatory
effect. Examples include individual testing or a more individually sensitive
standard. Also ensure that reasonable accommodation of any special needs, which
are based on protected characteristics under The Code, has been made.
Employers have the right to use their discretion in selecting the most
appropriately qualified person for the job, providing that the three points
listed above with respect to relevant qualifications and requirements have been
met. Employers also have the right to obtain information about an applicant
which is relevant to the job, provided the questions do not elicit unnecessary
information concerning characteristics protected by The Code.
How can I determine whether an applicant can do the job?
To evaluate whether an applicant can do the job, focus your inquiries on the
skills and qualifications that are necessary to perform the essential duties of
the job, keeping in mind the employer’s duty to reasonably accommodate special
needs based on protected characteristics.
If, for example, an essential duty of the position you are filling is that the
employee start work at 6:00 a.m., ask the applicant if he or she is available to
begin work at that time - not if they have children and what their childcare
arrangements are. If an essential duty of the position requires experience
driving a forklift, ask the applicant if he or she can drive a forklift, rather
than, for example, focusing your questions on the reason an applicant uses a
cane or other mobility aid.
Can I ask if an applicant can speak a certain language?
It is not a contravention of The Code to inquire as to whether an employment
candidate has a level of proficiency in a given language, where such a level of
proficiency is a bona fide and reasonable requirement or qualification for the
employment or occupation.
Can I ask if an applicant is 18 years or older?
The prohibition against age discrimination does not apply to occupations which
are restricted by law to persons over the age of majority, such as store clerks
for liquor stores or emergency vehicle drivers. Where there is not a legislative
requirement that a person be of the age of majority, employers cannot
discriminate on that basis. If an applicant is under the age of sixteen, age
alone is not a bona fide reason to refuse to consider him or her, if he/she has
indicated an intention to obtain the proper work permit.
Can I require an applicant to complete a psychological test?
Pre-employment psychological testing may contravene The Human Rights Code,
because both the form and content of the testing may, directly or indirectly,
limit employment candidates based on their ancestry, ethnic background, sex,
age, religion, physical or mental disability, or other protected characteristic.
Where such a pre- employment test does result in a limitation or preference
based on any protected characteristic, it will contravene The Code, unless the
limitation or specification or preference is based upon bona fide and reasonable
requirements or qualifications for the employment or occupation.
Can I ask if an applicant is related to anyone that we already employ?
A policy or practice which excludes relatives of existing employees from
employment opportunities is sometimes referred to as an “anti-nepotism” policy
or practice. Such policies or practices may lead to human rights complaints, as
it is discrimination under The Code to unreasonably discriminate in employment
on the basis of marital or family status.
Where a complaint alleges that an employer’s reliance on an anti-nepotism policy
or practice resulted in unreasonably discrimination on the basis of marital or
family status, the onus will fall on the employer to show that it met the
three-part test for employment standards as set out by the Supreme Court of
Canada and discussed earlier in these Guidelines on page 5. (See also Manitoba
Human Rights Commission Policy “Reasonable Accommodation: Bona Fide & Reasonable
Occupational Qualification”.)
The employer will be required to show that the anti-nepotism standard it relied
on was rationally connected to the performance of the job, was relied on in a
good faith belief that it was necessary to the fulfillment of a legitimate
work-related purpose and was a reasonably necessary standard to meet that
purpose. The employer will also have to ensure that reasonable accommodation was
made. (See also Manitoba Human Rights Commission Policy “Marital and Family
Status – Anti-Nepotism Policies”).
Can I require that applicants take a drug or alcohol test?
Dependence on drugs or alcohol is a disability within the meaning of The Human
Rights Code. Unreasonable drug and alcohol testing can result in discrimination
against applicants or employees who have a dependency disability.
It is especially difficult for an employer to justify pre-employment alcohol or
drug testing. Denying an applicant employment on the basis of the results of a
pre-employment alcohol or drug test is unlawful unless an employer can show that
the standard or requirement relied on is reasonably necessary for the employment
or occupation and it has taken reasonable steps to accommodate applicants or
employees with dependency disabilities.
Real and significant workplace safety concerns, where the nature of the
employment is such that performance or safety concerns cannot be addressed as
they arise, may establish a rational connection between a necessary
qualification or requirement for a job and the use of pre-employment drug and
alcohol testing. Good faith must be shown by the employer and such testing must
be reasonably necessary in the circumstances. (Please see our “Drug and Alcohol
Testing in the Workplace” guidelines for further information.)
Can I request that applicants take a medical examination?
An employer may request that a job applicant take a medical examination after a
written conditional offer of employment has been made, providing that:
a) the examination assesses only those physical or mental conditions or
abilities, which have been identified as bona fide and reasonable requirements
or qualifications for the employment or occupation;
b) everyone offered the same position undergoes the same medical examination
(except where a person has requested accommodation of a physical or mental
disability and a specific medical examination would assist in determining the
appropriate accommodation);
c) males and females receive the same medical examination, unless there is a
reasonable requirement or qualification for the employment affects only one sex;
d) determinations based on the medical examination relate to the person’s
current ability and not past or possible future disability, unless a reasonable
requirement or qualification for the job reasonably supports a different basis
for assessment; and
e) medical examinations and test results are interpreted according to current
medical knowledge.
Can I require that applicants submit to a criminal record check?
Some criminal charges or convictions may be related to the ability to perform a
job. Employers may seek information about applicants’ criminal records in such
circumstances. Unreasonable discrimination in employment on the basis of a
criminal charge or conviction is, however, contrary to The Human Rights Code.
Although “criminal record” is not a specific ground, The Code also protects some
classes or groups of people on the basis of personal characteristics not
specifically listed.
Whether a job applicant’s criminal charge or conviction is a reasonable
disqualification for the employment or occupation depends on the circumstances
of each case. Employers should consider whether the behaviour that is the
subject of the charge or conviction, if repeated, poses a significant threat to
the employer’s ability to carry on its business safely and efficiently. The
circumstances of the charge or offense, including the age of the applicant at
that time, the period of time that has elapsed since the conviction, what the
applicant has done in that intervening period and whether a pardon has been
secured in relation to the offence are all relevant considerations.
In a human rights complaint that alleges that an employer has discriminated
against an applicant based on a criminal charge or conviction, the employer will
have the legal responsibility to establish that the existence of the criminal
charge or conviction was a reasonable disqualification.
What if the applicant has an outstanding criminal charge?
Justifying the denial of an employment opportunity on the basis of a criminal
charge (as compared to a criminal conviction) may be particularly difficult. The
reason is that the employer will often have insufficient evidence or information
about the alleged criminal act to determine whether hiring the employee would be
an unacceptable risk. To show that denying an employment opportunity on the
basis of a criminal charge is reasonable discrimination, the evidence must show
that the risk to the public, co-workers or the employer’s business is so severe
that the possibility of a conviction justifies the discriminatory business
decision.
Can I request that an applicant submit to a police record check?
It would be very difficult for an employer to show that a police record check is
a bona fide and reasonable requirement or qualification for an employment or
occupation.
A police record check is a record of all contact that a person has had with the
police and is much broader than a criminal record check. Records of contact with
police may reveal information about non-criminal police contact that, if part of
an employer’s decision on hiring, may discriminate on the basis of protected
grounds under The Human Rights Code, including mental disability and marital or
family status.
What if we want to give preference in hiring to qualified persons from groups
that have been disadvantaged in employment?
Section 11 of The Code permits affirmative action programs or other special
programs that are designed to lessen conditions of disadvantage to individuals
or groups, where the programs achieve, or are reasonably likely to achieve, that
objective.
Pre-employment inquiries with respect to a protected characteristic do not
contravene The Code where the information is required for the purposes of a
special program, the applicant voluntarily provides such information, and it is
used in a manner consistent with section 11 of The Code.
What about information obtained after an employee has been selected?
Information that is requested in good faith and is reasonably necessary for
personnel purposes may be requested. Examples may include a photograph for
identification/security needs, the number of dependents for income tax purposes,
and age for employee benefit plan purposes.
Employers are encouraged to keep post-employment inquiries separate from
pre-employment inquiries, and to ensure that all employment inquiries are
job-related and necessary. Any information obtained after hiring must not be
used as a basis for subsequent discrimination in working conditions, including
wages, training, promotion, lay-off, and employee benefit plans.
NOTE: Those Manitoba employers who are subject to this province’s Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Personal Health Information Act
must also be aware of the significant restrictions placed on the collection and
use of personal information and personal health information by those statutes.
Who can I call?
For further information on these guidelines or The Human Rights Code, please
contact the Manitoba Human Rights Commission in your area.
Winnipeg: 7th Floor - 175 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3R8
Phone: 204-945-3007
Fax: 204-945-1292
Brandon: 353-340 Ninth Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6C2
Phone: 204-726-6261
Fax: 204-726-6035
The Pas: 2nd Floor - Otineka Mall
P.O. Box 2550
The Pas, MB R9A 1M4
Phone: 204-627-8270
Fax: 204-623-5404
Toll Free: 1-888-884-8681
TTY: 1-888-897-2811
Email: hrc@gov.mb.ca
www.manitoba.ca/hrc
April 2009
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The Manitoba Human Rights Commission