The old adage states that "it is always easier to find a
job when you have a job." However, some lawmakers are
concerned that this has become a self-fulfilling prophesy during
this period of economic recovery, and have created legislation to
protect job seekers who are unemployed.
On March 19, 2012, Washington Mayor Vincent Gray signed the
"Unemployed Anti-Discrimination Act of
2012" ("the D.C. Act" or "the Act"),
which has undergone its 30-day congressional review, and should go
into effect as soon as it is published in the D.C. Register. Along
with a similar statute in New Jersey and pending legislation in
several other states, this law adds to a growing trend of legal
protections for job seekers who are unemployed. Employers should
carefully consider these new legal protections in their hiring
process.
