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Chapter 17 - Twenty Questions about Employment Testing Bias and Unfairness in Romania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2025

Winfred Arthur, Jr.
Affiliation:
Texas A & M University
Dennis Doverspike
Affiliation:
George Mason University
Benjamin D. Schulte
Affiliation:
Texas A & M University
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Summary

This chapter examines employment testing bias and unfairness in Romania, the legal framework, discrimination types, and the role of regulatory bodies. Multiple organizational stakeholders are involved in employment testing, yet the Romanian legal system lacks explicit regulations on test bias and fairness. Although EU directives mandate equal treatment, they do not require validation of employment tests. The National Council for Combating Discrimination oversees enforcement but lacks authority over compensation or reinstatement. Employers, particularly in the private sector, often outsource recruitment and selection. Psychological testing is primarily governed by the Romanian College of Psychologists. Bias detection and disparate impact assessment remain underdeveloped, with limited legal requirements for test validity evidence. Romania’s approach to balancing validity and diversity remains informal, and artificial intelligence-based hiring tools are scarcely used. Legal consequences for discrimination range from fines to criminal penalties, yet selection methods remain largely unregulated. The chapter highlights gaps between advances in psychometrics and their application in employment selection.

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References

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