What is meant by BFOQ in the context of employment questions?

BFOQ stands for Bonafide Occupational Qualification. This term is used in employment law to refer to a quality or attribute that employers are allowed to consider when making decisions about hiring and other employment practices, even if it may be considered discriminatory in other contexts. BFOQs are typically related to the essential requirements of a job and are permissible when they are reasonably necessary to the operation of the business.

For example, a BFOQ may be applied in cases where a specific gender is required for a job such as a female actor in a female role or in a single-gender context where certain tasks directly require that specificity. The concept aims to ensure that only those characteristics that are directly tied to job performance can be used as valid criteria for employment decisions. This legal framework helps maintain a balance between preventing discrimination and allowing employers to hire individuals who can perform specific job functions effectively.