Which condition allows legal discrimination by employers?

• A. Bona Fide Occupational Qualification
• B. Seniority
• C. Random selection
• D. Equal opportunity

Answer: (A)

Some hiring decisions can be made on traits that are truly necessary to do the job well. That rule is called a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification, or BFOQ. It’s a legitimate job requirement that lets an employer discriminate in a narrow, specific way if the trait is essential to the duties of the position and the discrimination is directly tied to performing those duties.

For example, a religious organization may need to hire people who share its faith for roles that involve religious instruction or leadership. A role that involves privacy concerns, such as certain positions in a women’s or men’s locker room, might legally require applicants of a specific sex. In these cases, the trait is considered essential to the job, not merely a preference.

Other options aren’t about essential job requirements. Seniority is about length of service and is a neutral criterion, not a defensible discrimination based on a protected characteristic. Random selection is nondiscriminatory by design. Equal opportunity is the principle that prohibits discrimination, not a basis for it.

So, the best answer is the concept that allows discrimination when it is truly necessary for the job’s duties.