Minneapolis and St. Cloud employment law attorney Sheila Engelmeier explains why it is not appropriate to ask mental health related questions in a job interview. She stated that, from a legal compliance standpoint, an applicant’s disability should never be considered during the hiring process. She emphasized that it is inappropriate to use any physical or mental disability as a criterion for selecting candidates because employment decisions must be based on qualifications and job-related factors rather than an individual’s health condition. According to her, judges, juries, and other decision-makers generally expect that interview questions are directly related to determining whether a candidate is qualified for the position.

She further noted that an applicant’s physical or mental health should not become a topic of discussion during a job interview. She stressed that employers should focus their questions on matters relevant to the position and avoid inquiries that could suggest discriminatory hiring practices.