Psychological, Personality and EQ Tests

Psychological and personality testing have been around for a few centuries, but in the employment context, they’re rarely allowed. Employers measuring applicants’ Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is relatively new but gaining steam — and its specific legal ramifications are not yet known.

If any test is used to diagnose medical conditions (i.e., mental disorders) rather than simply to assess work-related personality traits, it likely is unlawful, as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) restricts an employer’s use of pre-employment medical or psychological examinations of job applicants. So