Pre-Employment Testing for Reading and Writing English

Employers today face an increasingly diverse workforce applicant pool, and an ideal candidate for a position may not speak English as their first language. While some employers may view this as a drawback, other employers may see the very positive potential of a bilingual applicant, especially in times of heightened competition for employees and serving an increasingly diverse older adult population.

Pre-employment testing is permissible only if a certain level of English skills is required for the safe and effective performance of the position for which it is imposed. Therefore, it is very important to understand the considerations around such testing. The information provided below is a list of questions and answers about pre-employment testing of reading and writing English that long-term care employers might want to consider before implementing such employment activities.