Reps. Johnson, DeLauro fight to ensure fair employment opportunities

Introduce legislation to prevent discrimination against unemployed workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-4) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011, which would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers by refusing to consider them for employment.

In today’s tough economy, more than 6 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months. But companies across the country have begun to require current employment to be considered for available positions, and these discriminatory practices are eliminating employment opportunities.

The Fair Employment Opportunity Act will prevent employers and employment agencies from refusing to consider or offer employment to someone who is unemployed, or including language in any job advertisements or postings that states unemployed individuals are not qualified.

A recent survey, conducted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), of four of the top job search Web sites, CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com, Monster.com, and CraigsList.com, found more than 150 job advertisements that specified applicants must be currently employed. And the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows there are 4.7 unemployed workers for every 1 job opening.

“Discrimination against the unemployed – especially the long-term unemployed – in job ads and hiring practices flies in the face of what we stand for as a nation: Equal opportunity for all,” said Rep. Johnson. “The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 will help us level the playing field and get people back to work.”

Representative Johnson introduced the “Fair Employment Act of 2011” in March, which also seeks to protect job applicants against discrimination on the basis of their unemployment status, and he has been involved with this issue since 2010.

“In a tough job market, where workers are competing against tens and sometimes hundreds of others for every available job opening, it is unjust for employers to discriminate against those who are unemployed. We have seen ample evidence that unemployed individuals are increasingly falling prey to discriminatory practices reducing their opportunities to be considered for a job,” said Congresswoman DeLauro.

“The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers, and ensure that all Americans have the same opportunities for employment."

BACKGROUND

New Bill Would Ban Discrimination Against The Jobless: Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) introduced legislation on Wednesday that would add unemployed people to that list of protected groups.

Source: Huffington Post, March 16, 2011

###