The New Workplace Discrimination: “Must Be Currently Employed to Apply.”

Yeah it is CRAZY just like when you apply for a credit a card and you have no credit their response is "well we can't give you a credit card because you have no credit". GO FIGURE. A Law needs to be passed against that discrimination, but it is hard to prove.

This is the God's honest truth and its DISGUSTING, especially since so many unemployed people were laid off because of this country's financial havoc.

In my job search, I have definitely noticed that I get more interviews now that I have the freelance/telecommute work that I'm doing listed on my resume as from 'such and such a time to present.' 

I have two colleagues that I used to work with who have since moved on to other jobs - and they both got their new jobs while still employed. And I have more or less the same exact experience and skill set as they do.

It is very unfortunate. I can understand that companies need to widdle down an extensive flow of applicants. But they are definitely missing out on a lot of very skilled workers due to frivolous technicalities. Especially if people are laid off or just got out of college.

I've seen so many job opportunities go to other people and those people they choose turn out to be grave disappointments. And then they have to let those people go, and everybody is back to square one.

It's really supply and demand at work. I understand from my friends who are recruiters, there is such an oversupply of applicants, they have to whittle down the pool somehow. One friend in particular works for a major telecom and they have masses of people who apply, many of whom do not have a skill set even remotely close to what's requested. Once those people are weeded out, they still have to get the pool down to a manageable number to interview or actually bring in. That means disregarding applicants who would have to relocate, who have been unemployed for a while and all kinds of things. They want to fill positions with the best qualified people at as little a hassle to the company as possible.

What is happening in the current “job market” is nothing short of sadism.  As FriendsofJay has, in part pointed out, the present corporate and political landscape has and continues to allow the onus of responsibility for finding, keeping and prospering on the job squarely on the employee, and at the complete expense of the employee.  Basically, it is telling people what THEY need to do to qualify for jobs without ever really knowing (by design) what is going on with the recruiters in these HR departments.  All of these supposed tips on what the unemployed are to do (how to dress, network, write a resume/cover letter, makeup, nails and hair (for women), etc.) are moot against these gatekeepers of jobs that look to do what is necessary to inflict pain and frustration upon people desperate for jobs.

Notice over time that the dissolution of unions, states’ adoption of “employment at will” laws, deregulation of businesses that make it easier for companies with a presence in this country to ship jobs outside have all contributed to the continual destabilizing and security for the vast majority of Americans that have and continue to be out of work.  You will never hear this in these supposed segments the media outlets want to run onto the public that “it is up to us” to persevere in jumping the hurdles to get a job, and expect less compensation for the effort.  Again, this is all in combination of being made to endure the indignities of applying for work; applying for jobs for which we are qualified according to their job postings only to be told that you weren’t selected and that “other candidates” will be considered.

The flip side of this is the striking increase of workloads and responsibilities thrown onto the remaining employees on the job.  There have been stories of these types of people that have seen their workloads increase by two and three times because the company bean counters somehow saw how financially “efficient” such a situation is to the company.  Of course, this comes at the expense of the employee that will now be evaluated more stringently on his/her work based on these added responsibilities (often done w/o proper training and no corresponding increases in pay).  I see this happening in real time with a person I am working with; the same company for which I was once a direct-hire worker (now temping).

For me personally, the only way I can see ensuring lifetime financial security is hitting a ten-digit, mutli-state lottery jackpot.  Very sad.

There is also the 'you are overqualified' bit as well. What happen to the days when employers were more concerned about good workers instead of all these ridiculous BS.

This is one of many reasons why Iam working for myself.

This is one of those peculiarities about the business world that don't make sense to anyone but personal directors.  As Christelyn said, "If this were the heyday of 4% unemployment she could understand employer being suspicious of jobless applicants, but with the unemployment rate where it is (and quite likely higher than 8.3% if you included all those discouraged or part time workers) this is just plain illogical.   On the other hand, someone who has a job yet is seeking another suggests that he or she is not satisfied with where they are now.  But suppose you hire them and they get wondering eyes again.  Would the employer "understand" a new employee constantly looking for a better job?  I realize that because of the vulture capitalism started in the 80's, most companies have no loyalty to a good employee, while simultaneously expecting loyalty from them.  That's fine in bad times when jobs are scarce, but how bad can you treat your workers in good times when they have other options?  In my hometown, there is an employer who takes good care of his employees: they have full medical benefits, pension plans, free membership to local gyms, etc.  Those workers feel loyalty to that corporation because the CEO has shown loyalty to them.  We've all heard those tragic stories about a worker being laid off three weeks before he can draw a pension  so that the company can save a lot of money on him.  The unreal thing about this process is that our government permits it------even winks at it.  The right wing has spun half truths to our younger people about how lowering corporate taxes and doing away with "onerous" regulations on business will usher in a new golden age, which they can take part in.  George W. Bush's three rounds of tax cuts, targeted primarily to the upper income brackets,  had the effect of starving the safety net, while lowering regulations allowed the boys on Wall Street to make stock deals and then actually bet against the stock going up, or the loan officers at banks who talked  families making $30,000 a year into buying houses worth $350,000, knowing full well that they couldn't possibly pay for them when the mortgage rates ballooned.  If the truth be known, Bush's tax cuts were specifically meant to cause a deficit in order to plead with the American people to do away with many of the entitlements in the safety net.  Republicans who under Reagan said that, "deficits don't count" have suddenly become strict deficit hawks.   We must get business back to where it was in the 50's, but we need our governments support, which they aren't giving.  There's a saying that, "If justice must be seen to be done, injustice must remain invisible.   It is now blatantly visible.  

That large, thirsty body of unemployed workers is a boon to employers.  They hold them over the necks of the employed like an axe.  And those that have jobs are scared as hell because they know there's always somebody ready to step in and do twice the work for half the pay so they take whatever crap the boss is handing out.

i've been reading on stuff like this as well....

here's what i have to say:

i can understand background checks.but employers have applicants jumping through way too many hoops..asking questions irrelevant to the job description( i saw a story in which one copmpany stopped taking resumes...now you have to submit a video of yourself.)

so....why would  "I" want to work for "THEM?"

any company that has to play games like this deserve the employees they get.

Here is a collection of other dumb laws. MY favs are women are not allowed to wear patton leather shoes, and it's illeagal to get fish drunk. LOL http://www.stupid-laws.net/Stupid-Laws-USA-States-and-Countries/Stupid-Laws-in-Ohio.htm

Not the least bit surprising, there's a lot of  age discrimination going on as well. 

Employers are now doing credit checks (screens out people who have ever had any financial problems; and they don't care if those financial problems have now been resolved, which of course discriminates against the poor and minorities who are most likely to have had financial problems), asking you have ever been arrested (not just convicted, but being arrested even if the charges were dropped counts against you), asking about any gaps in your employment history (oh, you stayed home for a while to take care of "personal concerns"??), and all sorts of other tactics are being used to screen people out. 

The US unemployment rate would probably be much higher if "discouraged workers" were included as a part of the unemployment rate.

I wish I could say I was surprised by this, but I'm not.