Currently, in Maine, it is legal for an employer to refuse to hire an applicant because she is unemployed. A bill which recently passed the Maine House would change that.
Discrimination against someone because he is unemployed strikes many as unfair particularly because so many people become unemployed due to circumstances beyond their control. “The best program we can provide people with is a good job,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland. “This bill would help eliminate the barriers and uphill battles workers face in trying to re-enter the workforce after being laid off, ensuring they have a fair chance at a new job.”
The New York City Council recently enacted a similar law, over the veto of Mayor Bloomberg, that we reported on in January.