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Watch Your Language

 
by Sue Benavid-Arbiv Esq.
Lewitt Hackman, Shapiro, Marshall & Harlan

Watch Your Language
California Department of Fair Employment & Housing

Presented as part of the "Hiring & Firing Practices" Seminar
by Sue Benavid-Arbiv Esq.
Lewitt Hackman, Shapiro, Marshall & Harlan

1663 Ventura Blvd., 11th floor, Encino, CA 91436
(818) 990-2120 • (818) 907-3220

sbendavid@lewitthackman.com


*The following are provided as examples of discriminatory and potentially discriminatory job specifications. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act bans employment discrimination on the basis of race, religeous creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex or age. Section 12940(d) states that it it an unlawful employment practice for any employer or employment agency, unless specifically acting in accordance with federal Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines or regulations approved by the Fair Employment & Housing Commission, to print or circulate any publication, or to make any non-job-related inquiry, either verbal or through the use of an application form, which expresses directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification, or discrimination on a basis enumerated in the act.

Watch your language when placing and accepting job orders and advertisements* avoid specifications linked to:

Sex
One-girl office
Two-man operation
FOA (Front Office Appearance)
Girl...Lady...Woman
Strong guys
Takes interest in her work
Must wear coat and tie
Pretty boy
Top lady-like appearance
Will fit position to man
Shirt sleeves guy
Bright, aggressive female
Sharp sweet girls
wanlt big ticket guy
Excelent secretary-no men
can-do man
Man only
No pantsuitsSideburns not below earlobes
Interested in seeing lots of gals
14-week training-wife can go too
A nice lady that knows up-to-date fashions

Sex-Tied Job Titles
Night watchman
Telephone girl
Bindery man
Counter Boy
Girl Friday
Office boy
Repairman
Bicicle boy
Hostess
Salesgirl
W arehouseman
Busboy
Coctail waitress
Draftman
Grill girl
Salesman
Waiter
Maintenance man
Policeman
Fireman

Disability
Good physical shape
Work on your feet
Lean and mean
Slender appearance

Age
Young energetic person
Recent grad
Age 20 to 30
Very young company
Student
College evening student
Age 40-50
Mature (30-55)
Age 20's
35 preferred
Boy
Average age
Young and promotable
Retired representative
Maximum 2-5 years experience
Junior position
Young
Will train bright new graduate
Right out of college (2 years) or service
Recent Graduate, little or no experience

Ethnicity
No B's
No accents
Japanese
Must be Italian
Chinese prefered
Honorable discharge
U.S. Citizen
English must be mother tongue
Filipino that speaks Tagalog

Marital Status
Single
Married
Unattached
Married and stable
No children
Prefers single
Couple
Without family problems
Family person
Not married
No children calling all the time

 

*The Build WorkSource web site provides material on topics of interest to businesses. It is not intended as legal advice or to answer specific legal or employment problems. The information presented in the Build WorkSource web site is from many sources therefore there can be no warranty or responsibility as to the accuracy, originality or completeness. Build WorkSource is not engaged in rendering legal or other professional counsel.