Bona Fide Occupational Qualification

Last update : July 12, 2023

What is Bona Fide Occupational Qualification?

“Bona fide” is a noun that means “the real thing.”

A Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) is a hiring or employment restriction that is legally allowed to be based on an individual’s sex, religion, or national origin. The qualifications for the position must be essential job functions that are necessary for the operation of the particular business.

A bona fide source is a person known for their expertise or authority who has given input or assisted in the creation of an issue. A bona fide source is a person who can answer inquiries about an issue.

A bona fide source is a non-biased source of information who has expertise in a particular field. A bona fide source is a person known for their expertise or authority who has given input or assisted in the creation of an issue.

Why is bona fide necessary? 

Well, without them our language and communication would be significantly poorer. They help to add precision and detail to our writing, and can often be used to replace longer, more complicated words or phrases. In many cases, they can also make our writing more interesting and expressive.

Is Gender a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification?

Gender generally applies to the BFOQ exception if only one certain gender is necessary to perform job duties. 

The BFOQ exception does not apply for:

  • Only a specific person/s of a certain gender
  • Stereotypical characterizations of a certain gender


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