Kolman Ely P.C.
Employment
Law News:
Copyright KEPC 2011
Kolman Ely P.C.
Since 1991
American Dream Disappears for the Long Term Unemployed
While Congress bickers, the long term unemployed see their investment in American and the American dream go south. There is little hope on the horizon. In 2010, the average length of unemployment topped 34 weeks. This is the longest average since the Labor Department started keeping records in 1948. Also, the percentage of the unemployed who were out of work for more than six months rose to 45.6 percent. More than 1/3 of the people who are unemployed have been out of work for more than two years. The recession does not seem to have any end to it, for those who are jobless. In order to make up the 8.4 million jobs which were lost from December 2007 until December 2009, the American economy would have to create 500,000 jobs a month, every month for three years to restore the job market and accommodate growth. Unfortunately, that is never going to happen. As a consequence, the long term unemployed remain disenfranchised, demoralized and it appears at least statistically, without a future. Also, the longer a person is unemployed, the harder it is for them to get back into the job market because, companies tend to discriminate against people who have not been in the job market for some time (the theory probably being that they have lost some of their skills or there must be something fundamentally wrong with them). Because of these dismal statistics and because of the significant effect that unemployment has on families, it is more important than ever, to try to keep your job and especially, if you are being unlawfully discriminated against or treated unfairly in the workplace. We can help. We have tremendous experience in assisting employees while they are still employed. If you have a problem at work or you think you may have a problem, give us a call. The downside of not doing so, could be very costly to you and your family.