Employers Continue to Discriminate Against Jobless, Think 'The Best People Are Already Working'

[marmar]

from HuffPost:



The number of Americans who have been out of a job for a year or longer has reached a record 4.4 million, roughly equal to the population of Louisiana, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The grim numbers may partially be attributed to the fact that employers are still openly discriminating against the unemployed--especially the longterm unemployed-- when deciding who to hire.

A surprising number of Craigslist job ads are automatically disqualifying the long-term jobless by including the stipulations, "Must be currently employed," "No unemployed candidates will be considered," or "must have been employed within the last 6 months." Other job postings specify that if an applicant is recently unemployed, he or she should include a "good reason" for his or her layoff along with a resumé.

Reeve Zimmerman, a hospitality management recruiter for Goodwin and Associates, is currently hiring an associate manager for a major corporate chain restaurant in Kingman, Arizona. He posted an ad on Craigslist for the job for currently employed candidates only because he said the companies he represents often prefer the safety of candidates who haven't lost their jobs, and it saves them from having to have to sort through the reasons an applicant is unemployed.

"Some companies think that the best people are already working," he told HuffPost. "Maybe the ones looking for jobs for some reason had a problem, or were let go for a reason, or quit for a reason, but the people companies want are the type that already have a job." ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/08/employers-continue-to-dis_n_756136.html

[Ken Burch]

1. And they wonder why SOME of us are socialists

(not our prez, who'd actually be IMPROVED being a socialist, since it would give him a clear set of principles, but SOME of us).

[Maccagirl]

2. In 2005 I was "downsized" and 2006 I worked temp jobs

for the whole year, had to sell my condo and am just now finally out of debt because I work 10 hours a day. Nothing says that I will have my job next week or next month and at age 54 what am I supposed to do? There are so many folks in my situation, or worse, and I can hardly remember when life was just routine and I even had dreams.

[RobinA]

3. Well, I've Been Laid Off

twice since 2001, unemployed for six months the first time while I collected severance and travelled, and unemployed two and a half months the second time. Both times I landed on my feet, so am I the "best" because I'm working or a person with a problem because I was laid off twice?

Maccagirl, I have been working since 1980 when I graduated from college and I HAVE NO IDEA what it's like to not have layoff hanging over my head every single day. It has affected every decision I have made both career-wise and financially. I weathered both layoffs well because I have been cautious financially almost to the point of paralysis. It has been a killer when it comes to going out on a limb that may have actually benefitted me in my career. I weigh every move I make based on the possibility of lay off from the position I could move to versus the possibility where I am at the moment. Dreams? Died the day I graduated from college in 5/1980 into 10% unemployment. I know where you are coming from.

[dkf]

4. Would you qualify if you were downsized and working as farm labor?

[Number23]

5. I've always thought that the "we're only hiring the already employed" reasoning

was one of the dumbest lines of thinking ever. And everybody, every company has this philosophy. It has never made sense to me.

[Cid_B]

9. What part don't you get?

The radio show I listen to has talked this one to death and employer after employer seems to agree.

It can be picking fruit, cleaning toilets or the classic McDonalds example... As long as one has a job then the requirement is met. It rarely says "must be employed and making no less than 75K per year"

The mentality is that any worker who would willingly take a handout from the govt for up to two years is not the type of employee they want. Its a pride thing for most people (men in particular.)

[OHdem10]

6. Sounds like something the Chamber of Commerce comes up

as a weakkneed explanation. You know how they
say our outsourcing has brought people out of
poverty around the world. Everytime I hear Donahue
say this my hair goes on end. Out of poverty and
on slave wages in some places.

Is this the lame excuse we will get when they finally
are forced there are millions in this country "left behind"???

We have been through an adjustment as a result of Globalization.
Companies have figured out what the new normal is for
their company. They have tried to accurately predict
how many customers they will have and can possibly get.
(Based on the fact they know a large number of people
in this country will be working at much lower salaries
than in the recent past. They have adjusted their workforce
to meet these needs.

It is rather hard to believe millions of people had all
these bad work habits and they all got fired at one time.

Do not let them off the hook--the politicians that is.

[ThomCat]

7. A hell of a lot of Amazing Employees were put out of work

for reasons that were entirely beyond their control. So now they are being denied any chance to get new jobs because of prejudices that are also entirely beyond their control! :grr:

So how are these smart, talented people who are able and willing to work hard ever going to get back to work?

:wtf:

[johnaries]

8. Then they certainly don't know some of the folks I work with.

And to be honest, our biggest problem employees are the Senior Executives.

[maryf]

10. who appreciates a job more?

I would think the one who needs it most...K&R

[SoCalDem]

11. Well then, just what about the "not-the-best" people who are unemployed?

The ice floes are melting, so we can't really drag all of them "out there" to perish, now can we?

Many/most of these "less-thans" have families who might need to eat every day or so, and who might need shelter when it rains or gets cold...they may have children who may need to attend school and just might need some shoes & some school supplies.

when people lose a job, they do not disappear.

these less-thans are also expected to continue to be consumers...to help our crap-o-riffic economy slog on. but without money, how exactly are they supposed to help?