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 Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts...

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katmandu

katmandu


Humor : Questionable
Posts : 199
Join date : 2011-11-08
Age : 54
Location : Jaw Juh

Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Empty
PostSubject: Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts...   Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Icon_minitimeTue Sep 04, 2012 11:54 pm

Well, after two years of un-/under-employment, I finally have a full-time job again. Most of my problem in gaining employment was the result of legal issues, which have since been corrected... and not less than a week after they were cleared up, I'm employed. It's not much money, but it's steady... and after a year of contractor work, never knowing if I'd work that week or if I'd get paid by the general contractor on time, it's nice to have a steady, reliable income again. While the pay is not great, there is the opportunity for advancement... and since I'm grossly over-qualified for the job, I think my odds are good in that arena.

But it got me to thinking... a lot of the reason why I found it so hard to get a job for 2+ years was my legal situation. Without going into a whole lot of detail, it involved a misdemeanor that didn't involve violence or drugs. Now that it's been cleared up (the wheels of justice grind very slowly indeed) and my record is clear, I'm hired immediately at the first place I apply. So... what about all those other people with minor records that don't get cleared up who can't find work? I understand the reluctance of employers to consider someone with any hint of wrongdoing in their past, but is it really fair? And even though it is illegal in the US (or, at least, in Georgia) to discriminate against someone based on a non-serious criminal background in employment, it is a common occurrence... and with the ease and prevalence of background checks these days, even more so.

Coming from a criminal justice background, and being employed in the field for some 14 years, I have some uneasy qualms. The old cliche "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime" was a byword amongst my co-workers in those days... but should that punishment extend beyond the time done? My situation is, admittedly, a bit different from that, in that I have a clean record again (and, in fact, am working at a sensitive facility with strict legal requirements); but my experience does lend me some sympathy. Which, after being on the other end for so long, is causing a bit of soul-searching.
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Wolf-Bone

Wolf-Bone


Posts : 3290
Join date : 2011-10-20
Age : 40

Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Empty
PostSubject: Re: Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts...   Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Icon_minitimeWed Sep 05, 2012 3:09 am

I don't think it's right. How the fuck is a person supposed to reform if the fucking system essentially won't let them? And it's not just shit like that making people "unemployable". It's everything from their internet postings, to their political views to even health conditions. We essentially still have institutional racism/homophobia to boot. Businesses think they're entitled to a workforce made up entirely of people who have never been in any kind of trouble ever, who have no issues whatsoever, who think exactly the way they do, and then they'll still outsource those jobs to save a few bucks. As it is they already don't play by the same rules as the rest of us but then will hold those rules over your head to rationalize not giving someone a job.
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jcstinks

jcstinks


Posts : 96
Join date : 2012-04-20

Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Empty
PostSubject: Re: Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts...   Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Icon_minitimeMon Dec 17, 2012 9:39 pm

Wolf-Bone wrote:
I don't think it's right. How the fuck is a person supposed to reform if the fucking system essentially won't let them? And it's not just shit like that making people "unemployable". It's everything from their internet postings, to their political views to even health conditions. We essentially still have institutional racism/homophobia to boot. Businesses think they're entitled to a workforce made up entirely of people who have never been in any kind of trouble ever, who have no issues whatsoever, who think exactly the way they do, and then they'll still outsource those jobs to save a few bucks. As it is they already don't play by the same rules as the rest of us but then will hold those rules over your head to rationalize not giving someone a job.

People are often surprised and offended that I don't run criminal record checks on new hires. It is like they believe I am opening the gates to waves of Mongol hordes.

I ask them why it affects them so much. And, do they think someone who once did a crime should never get a job ever. They haven't given me a response yet. At least, nothing past "yeah but" and "uhhh but you should still know." Why should I know, would I not hire them? Should I be suspicious? I'd rather be suspicious of someone who gets that defensive about other peoples' past behavior.
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HAXX

HAXX


Posts : 156
Join date : 2011-12-06

Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Empty
PostSubject: Re: Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts...   Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Icon_minitimeThu Dec 20, 2012 11:48 pm

Glad to see you have found some work again. You are a good person and it was hard to see struggle like that. I know it wasn't the best way to experience, but hopefully you learned a lot from your ordeal and how that effects people.
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Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Empty
PostSubject: Re: Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts...   Rave: Full-time employment at last! But with sobering thoughts... Icon_minitime

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