The PUMA story continued...

Hello FGBers! I thought those of you who were initially interested in the post where I talked about really intrusive questions that appeared on an online application page for PUMA North America--including the one that fueled my fire--"Are you under/over 40?", might be interested in a follow-up report. As one FGBer suggested, I wrote the CEO of the company, expressing my deep concern over an applicant's privacy, given the invasive questions contained within its online application, and calling particular attention to the illegal "age" question that, in my mind, constituted a potential breeding ground for age discrimination. I recently received a letter, mailed via FedEX, from the company's SVP, General Counsel. It contained an explanation for the overly intrusive questioning which, in a nutshell, was that the company is part of a federal program where it receives tax credits when it hires individuals who meet certain criteria. The online application (or that part of it) is actually a federal government applicant questionnaire that determines whether certain individuals meet eligibility requirements. The letter assured me that PUMA's hiring managers do not see the applicants' supplied answers to those very personal questions. Hmmm. I don't recall seeing at the top of the page (or anywhere on the page) that the following questions were being asked for purposes of federal tax program eligibility. I would think that that disclosure would have been a requirement, as well as an option not to answer! But I do recall, clearly, that WITHOUT answering those questions, I could not complete my application for the position. I still think that's wrong. Other than a certain section of an application that specifies it is collecting profile info and that completion is totally voluntary, I have NEVER heard of such a practice. Anyone? Human Resource professionals out there? Anyway, in conclusion, I guess I'll simply feel satisfied that my letter was read and addressed. Thank you all for sharing YOUR concerns about that situation.