05-08-2011, 06:33 AM
Linda, your frustration is understandable, and your husband's experience is far from unique. What is unique is an employer willing to admit, even off the record, that discrimination of some sort is being practiced. I am probably oversimplifying here, but there are two rationales generally given for employers hiring only "locals." One is that it is discrimination. Some call it racial discrimination, but it isn't always white folks who get this treatment. Some African-Americans and Latinos get it, too. The other rationale is that recently arrived mainlanders have a propensity to move back after they discover that they don't really fit in here. Having known a number of people who have done exactly that, I can understand how an employer might be reluctant to hire and train someone only to have them leave for non-job related reasons about the time they are hitting their stride in the workplace.
Is this fair? Not entirely, unless the employer has some sort of ESP that lets him know what people will do in the future. There are some opportunities, though. Mainland based companies and big-box type places tend to be more broad and open minded in their hiring. Take a look at Home Depot, for example, and you will see a much more diverse work force than at a lot of locally owned companies. I have also been told that the longer one is here, the less likely the employer is to assume that a prospective worker will bail in a year. Of course, if your financial situation calls for a job right now, that is of little comfort.
When my partner and I moved here, a lovely "local" neighbor lady who has since become a very close friend said, "I'm glad you two have your financial situation sorted out because it would be very hard for two fellows as white as you to find jobs any time soon." And that was at the height of the real estate bubble boom times. It can only be harder now. I truly wish your husband luck and hope he finds something soon.
Is this fair? Not entirely, unless the employer has some sort of ESP that lets him know what people will do in the future. There are some opportunities, though. Mainland based companies and big-box type places tend to be more broad and open minded in their hiring. Take a look at Home Depot, for example, and you will see a much more diverse work force than at a lot of locally owned companies. I have also been told that the longer one is here, the less likely the employer is to assume that a prospective worker will bail in a year. Of course, if your financial situation calls for a job right now, that is of little comfort.
When my partner and I moved here, a lovely "local" neighbor lady who has since become a very close friend said, "I'm glad you two have your financial situation sorted out because it would be very hard for two fellows as white as you to find jobs any time soon." And that was at the height of the real estate bubble boom times. It can only be harder now. I truly wish your husband luck and hope he finds something soon.