Employers Continue to Discriminate Against Jobless Workers

If you’re unemployed you have a ton to worry about.

Past due bills, mounting debts, going without health insurance, possible repossession of your car or foreclosure of your home, are just some of the not-so-pleasant thoughts plaguing the millions of average Americans facing extended joblessness.

Unfortunately, now there’s one more concern to add to the job market meltdown mix: a new report by the National Employment Law Project has found that employers are continuing to discriminate against unemployed people in their online job ads despite increased scrutiny surrounding the nation’s hiring practices.

According to a new report by The Huffington Post, “The jobs crisis is far from over: As of June, nearly 6.3 million U.S. workers had been out of work for six months or longer, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average length of unemployment has steadily risen to almost 40 weeks, and there were nearly five job applicants for every job opening as of the most recent data in May.

But that hasn’t stopped employers from continuing to screen out applicants solely because they are unemployed, using curt language like "must be currently employed," or "no unemployed candidates will be considered” on online job posting sites like Craigslist, Monster.com and Indeed.com to explicitly rule out certain out-of-work applicants.

"This pernicious practice adds a tremendous burden for unemployed workers as they look for jobs," Christine Owens, executive director of NELP told HuffPost. "For the millions of jobless Americans struggling to climb out of the deepest job hole in many decades, nothing can be more demoralizing than the double-whammy of losing a job and then learning they will not be considered for new positions because they are not currently working."

Politicians are working to even out the playing field for unemployed applicants in the job market, Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) have introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011, a measuring seeking to make it illegal to discriminate against unemployed Americans in a job advertisement or elsewhere. "I just thought about how unfair that was, to discriminate against people who had lost their jobs due to no fault of their own, who were just victims of corporate downsizing during a tough economy. And then to be penalized for having that status is just very unfair," Johnson told HuffPost. "It reminded me of the days when blacks were told to not apply for jobs, or job advertisements said 'no women allowed.'"

So what will you do in this rough and tumble job market? What will happen to your home, your car, your bills, your future?

Instead of waiting for lawmakers to make it easier for you to apply for income, become one of the millions of individuals who’ve taken things into their own hands to dispense with mounting debt, address financial woes and take back your fiscal freedoms.

Now more than ever, it’s time to consider making a fresh start through bankruptcy.

Knowing a qualified bankruptcy attorney can help any recession-weary worker to conquer their creditors and face their fears, yielding the right kinds of support, information and insights—at a low cost— to get anyone on their way to a more viable and secure future in the job market or out.

If you live in North Carolina, the bankruptcy professionals at the Law Offices of John T. Orcutt offer a totally FREE debt consultation and now, more than ever, it’s time to take them up on their offer. Just call toll free to +1-833-627-0115, or during the off hours, you can make your own appointment right online at www.billsbills.com. Simply click on the yellow “FREE Consultation Now” button.