Politics & Government

Johnson Introduces Bill to Prevent Discrimination Against Jobless

Study found 150 job postings that specify that an applicant must be currently employed.

More than 6 million Americans have been out of work for six months or more, according to a release from Johnson, who represents parts of Lilburn, Tucker and Norcross in District 4.

The Huffington Post reported yesterday on the new legislation, citing a study from the National Employment Law Project, or NELP. The study found 150 job advertisements on the top four job search sites that specified that an applicant must be currently employed. 

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“This perverse catch-22 is deepening our unemployment crisis by arbitrarily foreclosing job opportunities to many who are otherwise qualified for them,” the NELP study states.

The Fair Employment Opportunity Act would make discriminating against the jobless illegal.

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“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 in a statement. “The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 will help us level the playing field and get people back to work.”


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