Is it legal for an employer to inquire about an applicant's criminal history during hiring?

The choice that states it is legal for an employer to inquire about an applicant's criminal history during hiring, but with restrictions under EEO laws, is correct because employment laws vary significantly by state and type of job.

Employers are typically allowed to ask about criminal history; however, there are specific restrictions they must follow to comply with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws. For instance, inquiries must be relevant to the job being applied for and cannot be discriminatory. Certain criminal records may also be considered "ban the box" states, which prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications to avoid discrimination against applicants with past convictions.

Employers must also be careful not to violate any local or state laws that might add further restrictions to such inquiries. Hence, while employers can ask about criminal histories, they must navigate a complex landscape of legal requirements to ensure they do not engage in discriminatory practices.