Which characteristic does a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) NOT cover?

A Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) pertains to specific characteristics that can legally allow employers to hire employees based on certain attributes that are deemed essential for the performance of a job. When examining the characteristics covered by BFOQs, it is important to understand the context and limitations.

Religion, sex, and age can be legitimate BFOQs in certain situations. For instance, a religious organization may require certain positions to be filled by individuals of a specific faith, or a men's clothing store may only hire male employees for a role that involves modeling men's apparel. Similarly, age can be a BFOQ in roles where age-related qualities are essential, like with certain entertainment positions or where physical abilities might be significantly impacted by age.

However, color, which pertains to a person's racial or ethnic background, cannot be used as a BFOQ. Employment decisions cannot be made based on color, as this would constitute discrimination. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) strictly prohibits employment practices based on color, and there are no job-related reasons that would justify hiring solely based on this characteristic. Thus, it is clear that color does not meet the criteria for a BFOQ, making it the correct answer in this context.