For long-unemployed, hiring bias rears its head by Stephen Singer USA TODAY

For long-unemployed, hiring bias rears its head By Stephen Singer, Associated PressUpdated 5h 36m ago Comments HARTFORD, Conn. – Few job seekers who fail to get an interview know the reason, but Michelle Chesney-Offutt said a recruiter told her why she lost the chance to pitch for an information technology position. By M. Spencer Green, AP Michelle Chesney-Offutt in her home before leaving for work in Sandwich, Ill. EnlargeCloseBy M. Spencer Green, AP Michelle Chesney-Offutt in her home before leaving for work in Sandwich, Ill. The 54-year-old, who had been laid off from her IT job in Illinois, said the recruiter who responded to her online resume two years ago liked her qualifications and was set to schedule an interview. But he backed away, she said, when he learned she had been out of work for 13 months. The employer he represented would not consider applicants who were unemployed for more than six months, she said. STORY: Bernanke says job market weak despite gains "What they don't consider is that these are not normal times," said Chesney-Offutt, who was unemployed for nearly three years before landing a job. As high unemployment persists more than four years after the start of the Great Recession— and nearly three years after it was officially declared over — many who have struggled for years without work say they face discrimination. Nearly 13 million Americans, or 8.3%, were unemployed in February, the U.S. Department of Labor says. As of January, California, Connecticut Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Tennessee were considering legislation to prohibit employers from discriminating against the unemployed in help-wanted ads or in direct hiring or in screenings by employment agencies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Employers typically would face fines if found violating the law. The Oregon Legislature, for example, voted last month to fine employers $1,000 if they post a job ad telling unemployed workers to not apply. The bill is awaiting action by the governor. Some personnel managers say evidence of discrimination is sketchy and that hiring decisions are based on a host of subjective reasons that defy remedies imposed by laws. "There's much more subliminal discrimination against the unemployed that's hard to document," said Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University's College of Business Administration. "Hiring is an art, not a science. You rely on a gut reaction." For example, employers may suspect that an unemployed applicant is seeking an available job for the wrong reasons, she said. "A manager is going to get the vibe that they'll take anything to get a job and if something better comes along they're out the door," Sarikas said. Also, some long-term unemployed applicants may come across as too urgent for work, "and desperation doesn't translate well in an interview," she said. Terri Michaels, who manages a Hartford employment firm that primarily staffs temporary employees, criticized hiring practices that screen out unemployed job seekers. Despite the policies of small staffing companies such as hers, some large employers have an unspoken policy against hiring applicants who've been out of work for two years or more because they want workers with a stable job history and recent references, she said. "They won't be able to say it but they'll act on it," said Michaels, manager of Stewart Staffing Solutions. Employers generally expect job candidates — even while unemployed — to show they did some work such as volunteering or working temporary jobs, she said. "People who did not work in any capacity, didn't do anything are not as desirable to prospective employers," Michaels said. "One has to question, is that discriminatory? I don't know." Michaels said employers may use unemployment to weed out applicants for no other reason than to cut down a huge number of resumes for coveted job openings. "When you have 14 million unemployed, everyone is applying for everything," she said. "You have to be somewhat discriminating." A New Jersey lawmaker who co-sponsored the nation's only law barring ads that restrict applicants to those already with a job, agrees that job hunters need to show they've been active, even in unemployment. "Don't sit at home. Make yourself available to your community," said Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley. Still, she said she backed the legislation after colleagues showed her employment ads specifying that the unemployed should not bother applying. "I found that absolutely reprehensible," Riley said. "When you apply for a job, you should be viewed based on your skill level, not whether you have a job or not." Connecticut lawmakers are proposing legislation that would ban discriminatory job ads, but may back off from a more far-reaching provision that would permit unemployed job seekers who claim discrimination to file a complaint with the state's human rights commission or sue in court. The largest business group in the state, the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, sees a ban on discriminatory job ads as reasonable, but lobbyist Kia Murrell said businesses will fight efforts to give workers the right to sue over claims of discrimination. "You as the employer will be shaking in fear of a claim of unemployment discrimination," she said. The state's human rights commission told lawmakers that substantiating bias in hiring would be difficult and could require its staff to be nearly doubled if just a small fraction of Connecticut's 150,000 unemployed were to file a discrimination claim. State Sen. Edith Prague and Rep. Bruce Zalaski, who head the legislature's Labor and Public Employees Committee, said they may drop the provision allowing claims of discrimination. "It's not our intent that everyone can be sued," Zalaski said. The National Employment Law Project, based in New York, wants states to add laws that do more than ban discriminatory ads. Laws should explicitly prohibit employers and employment agencies from eliminating from consideration candidates who are unemployed, the advocacy group says. "You want to tell employers they can't screen workers out of the process because they're unemployed," said George Wentworth, a lawyer for the group. Chesney-Offutt, of Sandwich, Ill., said she took a 4-hour-a-week job teaching voice lessons so she could tell prospective employers she was employed. "They didn't care I was unemployed," she said. "They just wanted to know if I could teach voice lessons." The strategy worked and she eventually got a job in insurance customer service, taking calls from customers reporting claims. It doesn't allow her to use her information technology skills, but she's glad to be working.

Nearly 1 in 4 Households Use Over 1/2 of Income for Housing Costs

Nearly 1 in 4 Households Use Over 1/2 of Income for Housing Costs 02/24/2012 By: Esther Cho Enter your email to receive Daily Email Updates: Even with falling home prices, a study from the Center for Housing Policy found that affordability is still becoming increasingly out of reach for homeowners and renters. According to the 2012 Housing Landscape report released by the Center, the share of working households paying more than half their income for housing between 2008 and 2010 went up from 21.8 percent to 23.6 percent. Source: Center for Housing Policy As home prices dropped between 2008 and 2010, working homeowners also dealt with shrinking paychecks. For working homeowners over the two-year period, incomes dropped twice as much as housing costs, according to the study. Jeffrey Lubell, executive director of the Whington-based Center, said this was primarily due to a drop in average hours worked among moderate-income homeowners. “The data show that homeowners have been hit hard by the housing crisis in more ways than just lost equity,” Lubell explained. “Many working homeowners have been laid off or had their hours cut.” According to the study, the monthly median income for working homeowners’ fell from $43,570 in 2008 to $41,413 in 2010, which is about a 5 percent decrease. The median number of hours worked per week dropped from 50 to 48 between the two years, which partly explains the decrease in income. For renters, the monthly median income fell 4 percent from $31,570 to $30,229 between the two years. Housing costs for renters also increased, up by 4 percent over the same period. Laura Williams, author of the report, said rent rose because of increased demand for rental housing, which was partly encouraged by the housing market crises. “More and more people are interested in renting,” Williams said. “Some prefer it because it allows them to be more mobile in a tough job market. Others are postponing purchasing a home or facing difficulties obtaining a mortgage. Given the long lead times involved in responding to increased demand with increased supply, the rental market has tightened somewhat and rents increased.” The five states with highest share of working households with a severe housing cost burden in 2010 were California (34%), Florida (33%), New Jersey (32%), Hawaii (30%), and Nevada (29%). The five metropolitan areas with the highest share of working households with a severe housing cost burden in 2010 were Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida (43%); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, California (38%); San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, California (37%); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California (35%); and New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania (35%).

Short Sales vs. Foreclosures

Short Sale vs. Foreclosure


MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR A STABLE FUTURE


There seems to be no end to the debate of whether a short sale or foreclosure is a better decision for homeowners who can no longer afford their mortgage payments. For many, the anxiety of dealing with this challenge is so overwhelming that they give up and let their home fall into foreclosure. This is unfortunate. Weighing the benefits of a short sale when compared to foreclosure may have led to a decision that would have secured a brighter future.

I want distressed homeowners to be able to make an educated decision about how to proceed when faced with this challenging situation. That's why I've developed a special report that outlines the differences between a short sale and a foreclosure. It is available for free at the following site:

http://hosted.cdpe.com/132464

GUIDING DISTRESSED HOMEOWNERS THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE


If you know someone who owes more on their home than what it is worth and can no longer afford the mortgage payments, please let them know I can help. Having the right person navigate a distressed homeowner through foreclosure avoidance is key to providing for a financially and emotionally stable future.

I've also enclosed some business cards. Please think of me when you find those who need help in finding solutions to foreclosure. Your referrals would be my highest priority!

With gratitude,


Delane Ramey
dramey14@netzero.com
(706) 294-1991



Federal Trade Commission Disclosures

1. You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender (or servicer). If you reject the offer, you will not have to pay us for our services.

2. The above brokerage is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender.

3. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.

USA national anthem (with lyrics)

Avoid Foreclosusre

I became a Certified Distressed Property Expert to help my community find answers in their times of need. I want to ensure my friends and neighbors always have the best information, so they can make the best decisions. That’s why I’ve created a website to provide answers and assistance. I’ve recently prepared a free report on two dignified solutions to an upside-down mortgage situation: a short sale and a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. You can download it here for free:

http://hosted.cdpe.com/132464/

Contrary to what you may have heard, lenders actually want to avoid foreclosure wherever possible, accepting more short sale and deed-in-lieu transactions everyday. This is great news for homeowners facing financial distress, providing hope for a positive new year.

I want our community to thrive and remain a stable environment for our families and friends. If you or someone you know could use my help, please don’t hesitate to contact me. In any event, it would be great to hear from you again.

Sincerely yours,




Delane Ramey

Daily Real Estate News

Daily Real Estate News

There is Help For You----Short Sale/Foreclosure

What is a CDPE?
When your roofing needs to be replaced, you consult a roofing expert. When there's a problem with your computer, you consult a technician who understands the issues of your particular model. And when a loved one becomes sick, you seek answers from medical professionals specifically trained in that particular illness. Similarly, in this current economic crisis, millions of homeowners facing financial hardship and possible foreclosure action are requesting the help of agents with the Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) designation. A CDPE is a real estate professional with specific understanding of the complex issues that confront homeowners in distress. Through comprehensive training and market experience, CDPEs are able to provide real solutions for homeowners facing hardships in today's market.

The prospect of foreclosure can be financially and emotionally devastating, and often homeowners proceed without guidance of any kind. CDPEs believe that in almost all cases, the best course of action for a homeowner in distress is to speak with a well-informed, licensed real estate professional. They have the tools necessary to help homeowners find the best solution for their particular situation. While enduring financial difficulties are challenging for any family, the process of finding a qualified real estate professional should not be. Delane Ramey has achieved the CDPE designation, ensuring you deal with a professional trained to address your specific needs. CDPEs don't merely assist in selling properties, they serve and help save their clients in need.

For more information, visit www.CDPE.com.
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What is a CDPE®?
Learn how agents with the Certified Distressed Property Expert® designation are best suited to help distressed homeowners.Contact This CDPE®
Delane Ramey
RE/MAX PARTNERS
725 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 2
Evans, GA 30809

(706) 294-1991
www.delaneramey.remax-georgia.com