Main Street

Democratic Senators introduce bill to address unemployment discrimination

Good news from Congress – Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011, which finally addresses the immoral practice of hiring discrimination against the unemployed.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are original co-sponsors, with Representative Rosa DeLauro (also D-CT) introducing a companion bill in the House.
“This bill will explicitly prohibit employers from engaging in discriminatory hiring and ensure that unemployed job seekers receive fair consideration for job openings,” said Senator Blumenthal.
Senator Gillibrand added: “Losing your job through no fault of your own should never disqualify you from finding a new job.”

The text of the legislation explicitly states that job listings cannot include any provisions indicating that a job seeker’s unemployment status will disqualify them from a job – a practice that is currently widespread.

Employers are prohibited from “refusing to consider for employment or refuse to offer employment to an individual’s status as unemployed” – just as employers cannot refuse to hire someone based on race, gender, and other factors.

Here’s the kicker: Employers who violate the law could be subject to fines equal to the wages lost by the job seeker. (Read the full bill text here.)

After a frustrating few months where the conversation in Washington was dominated by the debt and deficit, it is heartening that at least some of our lawmakers are getting back to the issues that matter to most Americans: jobs, jobs, and jobs. Not only finding a job if they don’t have one, but being treated fairly and justly by their employers.

We certainly commend Senators Blumenthal, Gillibrand, Brown, and Rep. DeLauro – if their GOP colleagues are as serious about getting Americans back to work as they claim, they will support this bill as well.