Dear Littler: How Do Employers Use Big Data, And What Are The Risks?

Dear Littler: We are revamping our online job application. I asked our HR director if we should eliminate the question asking about an applicant’s hobbies. Not only does she think we should keep the question, but she says we need to gather more “big data” about our candidates. What the heck is “big data?” Are there any risks with relying on “extra” information about candidates?