For this activity, explain that employment law is more complicated than a simple “legal/illegal” checklist, and rules can vary by situation and state. For a teen introduction, the useful rule of thumb is to focus interview questions on qualifications, skills, experience, availability, and ability to perform the job.
Federal employment law protects applicants from discrimination based on characteristics including race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and transgender status), national origin, age 40+, disability, and genetic information. The EEOC specifically advises employers to avoid questions about protected personal characteristics and prohibits disability-related questions before a conditional job offer.
Optional 2-minute wrap-up: Ask each group, “What is one question you thought was okay at first but now realize could be a problem?” This usually produces a better discussion than simply reviewing the answer key.