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Apple joins list of US companies pledging to end hiring discrimination against long-term unemployed

President Obama shown with an iPad 2 in 2011. Photo via The White House

Apple is among some of the largest companies in America who have agreed to a new program from President Barack Obama pledging to avoid discrimination against job candidates who have been out of the workforce for an extended period.

About 300 businesses have agreed to support the program, the White House says. Major corporations joining Apple in supporting the president's initiative include Walmart, Ford and General Motors, according to The New York Times.

In all, 21 of America's 50 largest companies, and 47 of the top 200 are said to support the push for overhauled hiring practices. Obama has cited long-term unemployed citizens as one of the largest issues currently facing the U.S. jobs market.

Chief executives from a number of companies that have agreed to help Obama's efforts will appear with the president on Friday. Not listed among those expected to appear is Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Employers have promised that they will not automatically rule out potential job candidates simply because the person has been out of work for an extended period of time. The federal government will also agree to the pledge for its own hiring policies through an executive order to be signed by the president.

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52 Comments

waterrockets

said about 10 years ago

Hear hear! <toast>

jcc

said about 10 years ago

Just because they say that they won't discriminate doesn't mean that they won't. People in HR have a mindset that will be difficult to break. After all, if YOU were given a choice between someone who's employed vs someone who hasn't worked for a few years, who would YOU choose? qualification: if both candidates qualify for the job.

tallest skil

said about 10 years ago

Originally Posted by JCC

After all, if YOU were given a choice between someone who's employed vs someone who hasn't worked for a few years, who would YOU choose?

The one who can do the job best.

smileydude

said about 10 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCC

View Post

Just because they say that they won't discriminate doesn't mean that they won't. People in HR have a mindset that will be difficult to break. After all, if YOU were given a choice between someone who's employed vs someone who hasn't worked for a few years, who would YOU choose?

But that's not really a good criteria -- for example, I was out of work for a few months many years ago and I spent those months brushing up on new skills. I didn't apply for any jobs during that time. At the end, I was able to find a job using those new skills. If I had applied for that job right after the previous job, I would not have been qualified for it and most likely would not have gotten it.

My point is that just because someone has been unemployed doesn't mean they've been standing still. You have to dig in deeper than simply looking at some dates on a résumé.

Perhaps these HR people are doing a service here -- do you really want to work somewhere with people who are shallow enough to only look at some dates on a résumé and make a hiring decision without asking a few questions over the phone or email first?

tbell

said about 10 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCC

View Post

Just because they say that they won't discriminate doesn't mean that they won't. People in HR have a mindset that will be difficult to break. After all, if YOU were given a choice between someone who's employed vs someone who hasn't worked for a few years, who would YOU choose?

I would look at both candidates qualifications. Somebody being out of work for a while really doesn't mean very much. Both candidates are going to have to be trained in some way for the new position. Moreover, it might be possible the unemployed person is going to be hungry and loyal.

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