CNNMoney.com published an article today (http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/16/news/economy/unemployed_need_not_apply/) Out of Work? Unemployed Need Not Apply in which Senior Writer Chris Isidore talks about how many employers will not even consider the unemployed for jobs they have available.
Yes! You read right! Apparently, there is an increasing trend out there in the job market where employers will only consider hiring people who already have jobs! To quote the article: “Some job postings include restrictions such as “unemployed candidates will not be considered” or “must be currently employed.”
And yet, the HIRE Act (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment) rewards employers for hiring people who have not worked more than 40 hours during the 60-day period ending on the date the employee begins employment with the company. See the IRS article at: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220326,00.html and the IRS W-11 form at: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw11.pdf
HIRE, enacted into law as IR-2010-33 on March 18 of this year, gives employers two new tax benefits for hiring workers who were previously unemployed or only working part time. Here’s an excerpt from the IRS site:
“Employers who hire unemployed workers this year (after Feb. 3, 2010 and before Jan. 1, 2011) may qualify for a 6.2-percent payroll tax incentive, in effect exempting them from their share of Social Security taxes on wages paid to these workers after March 18, 2010. This reduced tax withholding will have no effect on the employee’s future Social Security benefits, and employers would still need to withhold the employee’s 6.2-percent share of Social Security taxes, as well as income taxes. The employer and employee’s shares of Medicare taxes would also still apply to these wages.
In addition, for each worker retained for at least a year, businesses may claim an additional general business tax credit, up to $1,000 per worker, when they file their 2011 income tax returns.
“These tax breaks offer a much-needed boost to employers willing to expand their payrolls, and businesses and nonprofits should keep these benefits in mind as they plan for the year ahead,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.”
Maybe all those employers and recruiters out there who are discriminating against the unemployed seeking jobs should become more familiar with what’s going on out in the real world.
To all those unemployed and looking for full-time work: stay strong! Don’t let these employers discourage you. Get the information! Know the law, stay abreast of the latest news regarding employer incentives to hire the unemployed, and EDUCATE these obviously ill-informed HR specialists/managers/recruiters and headhunters. Let them know it’s to their financial advantage to hire you by sending them a copy of the IRS article on HIRE to them. Send them the W-11 form even! Maybe they’ll hire you just because you’ve shown them you are well-informed, assertive and not afraid to right wrongs.
As always, Getting the Information first usually makes step 2 alot easier!
