Interviewing and Selecting Job Candidates: Mississippi

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Martin J. Regimbal, The Kullman Firm

Summary

• Mississippi prohibits discrimination based on an individual's service in the military and in certain circumstances involving employment of unauthorized aliens. See Nondiscrimination by Private Employers.
• While not explicitly prohibiting discrimination in employment by private employers, several Mississippi laws ban discrimination on the basis of certain protected characteristics in "employment supported in whole or in part by public funds" and condition receipt of assistance and/or loans on certification by a private employer that it does not discriminate on the basis of certain protected characteristics. See Nondiscrimination by Private Employers.
• Mississippi law mandates that all employers only select individuals for employment who are legal US citizens or who are legal aliens. See Mississippi Employment Protection Act.
• Private employers should be aware that Mississippi is one of the states that bans private employer from requiring that job applicants abstain from smoking or using tobacco products during nonworking hours. See Smokers' Rights.