Discrimination Against the Unemployed?

[Kithus]

Hundreds of job opening listings posted on Monster.com and other jobs sites explicitly state that people who are unemployed would be less attractive applicants, with some telling the long-term unemployed to not even bother with applying.

The New York Times' Catherine Rampell said she found preferences for the already employed or only recently laid off in listings for "hotel concierges, restaurant managers, teachers, I.T. specialists, business analysts, sales directors, account executives, orthopedics device salesmen, auditors and air-conditioning technicians." Even the massive University of Phoenix stated that preference, but removed the listings when the Times started asking questions.

The concerted shunning of unemployed Americans by prospective employers was a common theme that cropped up in the thousands of responses that poured in when we asked Yahoo! readers to share their experiences of unemployment for our "Down But Not Out" series.


Reader Susan W. said she was being treated "as if it were my fault I was unemployed, regardless of the fact that I had put out hundreds of resumes and applications."

Legal experts told the Times that explicitly barring unemployed people from applying does not qualify under the statutory definition of discrimination, since unemployment is not a federally protected status like age or race. But the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently set out to establish whether employers were discriminating against certain protected groups because they are overrepresented in the ranks of the unemployed, such as African-American and older workers. (We covered that meeting here.) New Jersey recently passed a law barring employment ads that seek to rule out applications from those who are unemployed.

Even if the practice of weeding out unemployed applicants doesn't fit the legal definition of discrimination, it sure feels unfair for the more than 6.3 million Americans who have been out of work for more than six months to be told they are automatically disqualified for the few openings that are out there. "I feel like I am being shunned by our entire society," Kelly Wiedemer, an unemployed information technology specialist, told the Times.


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/job-listings-unemployed-not-apply-133143362.html

I just found this sad and slightly ironic considering our recent discussion about discrimination. They can't stop these ads because it's wrong but if they can just prove it's affecting a higher percentage of a minority group than whites it'll be stopped cold.

[Cephalopod]

This is sad, but I definitely know this happens in the tech industry, largely because you want people who are 'fresh' and not someone who has been out of touch with newer technologies for months or years. I wouldn't discard an applicant out of hand just because they are unemployed, but I want to really see that they've put effort into staying current while they were unemployed.

(As an aside, my company recently hired a graphic design artist. He has had nothing but 'intern' level jobs since he graduated college... 4 years ago. Ouch.)

[Kithus]

Oh this is the NY Times article they were referencing for those who want a bit more info:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/26/business/help-wanted-ads-exclude-the-long-term-jobless.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss&wpisrc=nl_wonk

[Parkbandit]

It absolutely happens.. just like fat people, ugly people, etc.. are discriminated against.

Nice find Kithus.

[Nieninque]

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/job-listings-unemployed-not-apply-133143362.html

I just found this sad and slightly ironic considering our recent discussion about discrimination. They can't stop these ads because it's wrong but if they can just prove it's affecting a higher percentage of a minority group than whites it'll be stopped cold.

I didnt see your recent discussion, however why is it hard to see why there might be a need to look a little bit deeper at the type of people more likely to be affected by a blanket prejudice against a "group" not covered by legislation?

[Parkbandit]

I didnt see your recent discussion, however why is it hard to see why there might be a need to look a little bit deeper at the type of people more likely to be affected by a blanket prejudice against a "group" not covered by legislation?

Which groups do you believe require special rights under the law?

[Archigeek]

I think the "type" of people is pretty clearly identified as unemployed. And the label runs pretty much across the board. You could maybe say this is more of a white collar recession than a blue collar one, as blue collar jobs in the US were already down before the recession. In this recession, white collar jobs are playing catch up, or down I suppose.

Personally I decided to start my own company, figuring that in this economy I could compete more effectively as a nimble small company with lower overhead vs the companies I'd be looking to for a job. It's been a slow start, but it's coming around. July has blown away all other months for billings, and still has a week to go! And clients are paying their bills, (yay), and there's more work in the pipeline.

I feel for those who are unemployed though. This has been a very difficult and drawn out recession. There are a lot of good people in my field who have been out of work for as long as 2 years. They aren't a bunch of slackers or guys who have no talent. There just happens to be an unemployment rate in architecture that's still probably pushing 30%.

[Parkbandit]

Personally I decided to start my own company, figuring that in this economy I could compete more effectively as a nimble small company with lower overhead vs the companies I'd be looking to for a job. It's been a slow start, but it's coming around. July has blown away all other months for billings, and still has a week to go! And clients are paying their bills, (yay), and there's more work in the pipeline.


Congratulations on your new business.

[Archigeek]

Congratulations on your new business.

Thanks. Hopefully we can keep it up. If we sign the next deal, we'll have to hire our first employee.

[Nieninque]

Which groups do you believe require special rights under the law?

Ones which are more likely to be discriminated against for no particularly valid reason.

[Parkbandit]

Ones which are more likely to be discriminated against for no particularly valid reason.

So.. like ugly people and fat people and unemployed people?

[Rinualdo]

Ones which are more likely to be discriminated against for no particularly valid reason.

I think the problem with your argument is the slippery slope that it creates. I'm quite sure those doing the discrimination, in your eyes, feel perfectly validated and justified.

Or, to put it another way

Rationalization is a muthafucker.

[Parkbandit]

Ones which are more likely to be discriminated against for no particularly valid reason, scream the loudest and have enough voters to make it worthwhile.

This is actually the policy of the US Government.

[Nieninque]

So.. like ugly people and fat people and unemployed people?

No. Women, Lezzers and Benders, Disabled people, Brown people, Old people (should have some sympathy for you there), that kind of stuff.

People who would ordinarily be able to perform a task perfectly well, but for the stupidity of fucktard employers who cant see past their own prejudices and stereotypes.

[Parkbandit]

No. Women, Lezzers and Benders, Disabled people, Brown people, Old people (should have some sympathy for you there), that kind of stuff.

People who would ordinarily be able to perform a task perfectly well, but for the stupidity of fucktard employers who cant see past their own prejudices and stereotypes.

You can't possibly believe that a gay person is more discriminated against than a fat or ugly person.. can you?

The problem is.. there is no "Plus sized for Progress" or "Ugly and Disfigured Alliance" groups that can be organized for a voting block for a politician to take advantage of.

[Rinualdo]

You can't possibly believe that a gay person is more discriminated against than a fat or ugly person.. can you?


I don't agree with Ninn, but I will chime in here and say the causes and severity of the discrimination will differ.

When people feel they have religious justification, they are more apt to be more vocal with their discrimination and more apt to carry that discrimination to further degrees.

[Parkbandit]

I don't agree with Ninn, but I will chime in here and say the causes and severity of the discrimination will differ.

When people feel they have religious justification, they are more apt to be more vocal with their discrimination and more apt to carry that discrimination to further degrees.

You believe that gay people are more discriminated against than ugly or fat people?

[Rinualdo]

You believe that gay people are more discriminated against than ugly or fat people?

More discriminated? No.

More severely discriminated? Yes.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Woe to the person who is fat, gay, ugly, transgender, unemployed and poor.

[Rinualdo]

Woe to the person who is fat, gay, ugly, transgender, unemployed and poor.

I refuse to have any sympathy for Inspire.

[Ardwen]

I like that the ugly and disfigured alliance. someone needs to start that organization

[Archigeek]

Ones which are more likely to be discriminated against for no particularly valid reason.


I like that the ugly and disfigured alliance. someone needs to start that organization

I get uglier and more disfigured every day. I'm in.

In all seriousness though, I do see this in age discrimination particularly these days. Companies don't want to hire some old guy who costs more to insure and isn't up to speed on the latest technology.

I think discriminating against the unemployed when you're hiring is a mistake. You're not really improving your approach to hiring by making a blanket statement that discourages the unemployed from applying. You'd be much better off having the employees you do have work their networks and find your employees that way.

[Kithus]

I like that the ugly and disfigured alliance. someone needs to start that organization

We've finally found a job for Back!

[Parkbandit]

We've finally found a job for Back!

http://cdn100bhbelt.bluehatnetwork.com/components/com_joomgallery/img_pictures/animated_gifs_1/jim-carey-laugh-funny-animated-gifs_20101125_1080841904.gif