The New York Times has an editorial today that everyone should read. In that editorial is a link to proposed legislation that would help the long-term unemployed and possibly also the underemployed. The bill doesn't cover every issue in hiring discrimination and could stand some tweaking.
I followed the link, and liked what I read. You can read it here. I think you'll like it too.
HR 2501, The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011, needs a sponsor in the US Senate. Hence my letter today:
Dear Senator __,
The New York Times online had a link to legislation pending in the House, http://www.opencongress.org/.... The bill is titled Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011. It has no sponsors in the Senate. Would you consider sponsoring it, please?
There are a few other things that also need to be addressed in this bill -- age discrimination, especially as linked to health insurance costs, and credit checks of job applicants. These are also grossly unfair, in many cases irrelevant, and often interlock. Middle-aged people do have a lot to offer, and deserve a level playing field. One of the problems faced by the long-term under- and un-employed is ruined credit. It is impossible to repair one's credit if one cannot find more remunerative employment.
I am 50. I have been looking for full-time employment for two and a half years. I have an MA in history and was admitted to candidacy to the PhD (_ __ history). The best employment I have been able to find is substitute teacher for __ County Public Schools. I've come close a couple of times to landing good jobs I would have loved, once last spring and once this summer. Most of the time I never hear back from anyone. My credit is utterly destroyed. I have student loans I cannot repay. My husband and I live hand to mouth, yet we do not qualify for state assistance of any sort. His parents are helping us, but it is limited. I find it humiliating and tremendously depressing to be in this situation, given my education.
My employment status and credit should not be the limiting factors. I'm not looking for retail or banking work. I am an honest person, and have no criminal record of any sort -- otherwise, I wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the public schools! I've tried to find work teaching in private schools, in museums, in public and private office settings. I am having absolutely no luck and I am ready to give up.
The unemployed and underemployed need help, a hand up out of the hole. This bill offers to smooth the path to employment. Please, please consider sponsoring this bill in the Senate. If I could get down on my knees in front of you to beg you to do so, I would. It is that important.
Sincerely,
Noor B
Okay, guys, here's my pitch to you: start writing your congressperson and your Senators. We the unemployed and underemployed need all the help we can get. This bill would help. No, it's not a magic bullet that will slay the unemployment problem, but it's a start. It's better than the whole lotta nuthin' we've gotten lately. But we won't even get this if we do not start making noise. We need a sponsor and co-sponsors in the Senate. And I'm willing to bet that the President would sign it if it got to his desk.
Who's in?