SENATE BANS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE UNEMPLOYED
Measure prevents employers from excluding unemployed workers from advertised jobs
AUGUSTA–Today,the Senate unanimously voted under the hammer to prevent employers from discriminating against the unemployed when advertising available jobs.
“Once upon a time, ‘want ads’ discriminated based on gender and race and we put an end to that. Today, we must put an end to the bias against those who have lost their job and are trying to get back to work,” said Senator John Patrick of Rumford, the Senate Chair of the Labor Committee. “It’s absurd that an employer would prevent people who have lost their job through no fault of their own from applying for a new job just because they are currently unemployed. If they can’t apply for new job, how will the become employed again?”
The measure bans employers and employment agencies from requiring current employment status as a qualification or prerequisite for a job, or refusing to consider an applicant based on current employment status, unless there is a “bona fide occupational requirement” for requiring an applicant to be currently employed. The bill also imposes a fine of $250 to $1,000 for each violation.
“We should be helping folks get back to work not making it harder,” said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “Today’s vote shows that here in the legislature we are doing what’s right and standing up for Mainers who want to get back to work.”
The bill, LD 1157, “An Act To Establish the Fair Chance for Employment Act,” was initially passed by the House earlier today. The bill faces further votes in both the House and the Senate.
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