A freshman Chicago alderman concerned about the potential for a new class of permanently unemployed workers wants to ban the rejection of job applicants because of bad credit histories or gaps in employment.It's easier to find a job when you have a job they say. Of course for those who have been unemployed for a significant period of time knowing that you must be employed before you find the next job is a problem.
The goal, said Ald. Ameya Pawar, 47th, is to prevent employers from discriminating against people who have hit hard times in the current economy.
“If you’ve been out of work for on average 27 weeks or more, and now employers are saying they are only going to look at people who are employed, you are creating a permanent class of unemployable people, and that’s unacceptable,” Pawar said.
Pawar, noting that some online job postings state “unemployed need not apply,” wants to amend the city’s Human Rights Ordinance. All but nine of the 50 City Council members signed off on his proposal this week.
The change would add “credit history” and “gap in employment history” to the many categories against which employment discrimination is banned. Other categories include race, color, sex, age, religion, disability and sexual orientation.
I admire Pawar for this, at the same time well he may want to petition the state legislature as well or even the US Congress. This issue may not be a bad issue to really gain recognition.
2 comments:
From the employer standpoint, Levois, they're looking to weed out people who might steal on the job.
Well in light of that, then I can understand investigating credit history. Then what about not wanted a unemployed person to work for you? Although to be sure weeding out potential theives is understandable.
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