A lot of people criticize folks who speakout about odd decisions that employers make, especially when they NEED a new hire, but then they expect a person right out of jail, one of the post impoverished positions to be in, to somehow scrounge up funds for uniform dress codes that aren't inexpensive
I'm going through a rut right now, I was released from jail not long ago, not for a violent crime but simply drug possession in the wrong state and I had served some time. I got a new place through some program with a roommate in a small town, but I'm expected to start paying my share of (reduced) rent. Despite months of job searching, and there's not many jobs out here, I've had an issue finding an opening until recently.
Not being in a busy urban area a lot of things just don't work out here like asking for help at churches or finding food banks which are non-existent. I am constantly helped by my struggling roommate who can't always provide, so I go volunteer or have to hang out at 11pm when one store closes, hoping the closing staff is the one employee who'll sneak me some food they were throwing away. During the day they have the dumpsters behind gates and won't give shit. It seems they are just throwing several ex-incarcerated into these small towns now for housing, which is rotten because it means less resources..
Things were starting to look better when I finally got hired for a restaurant job at a local diner. Unfortunately, they require a specific dress code to work there that I'm expected to get despite having no income since being released. Another thing is in towns that aren't close to major districts, things like Walmart or Target, cheaper big brand stores, don't exist, which I've had issues getting many people to realize.
The dress code on paper is simple, they want slip resistant shoes to handle wet floors, a buttoned yellow shirt, black pants, and black socks with a black belt.
That sounds on paper, very basic and maybe in a bustling city might be cheap, but here that's a $73 investment. The shoes alone are in the 40s. They did not sugarcoat that they can't help based on policy, yet at the same time tell me that they need urgent help because of a staff shortage.
Ok, so I need a job to get my own life back in order, you need employees, you know I am recently released from jail from both interviews you hired me from, but expect me to magically find $73 with no credit and recent imprisonment?
Yet folks like me who get released are constantly ridiculed and condescended to. “Get a job”, “buy your own rice”, “can't you get money from your drug buddies”? All the insults in the book. But after searching and struggling for the basics, I finally get a job, and now I'm expected to fend for myself????
I've got until Thursday, which is the last day of training I can miss to come in with the uniform, to start working as a diner server. The problem is there's pretty much nothing around me, and no help because people ridicule those who served their time out here. It's especially frustrating in my case because I didn't rob or hurt anyone, just got an unfair penalty for having non-violent drugs that my state considers to be something to make a big deal about.
If employers or state governments won't help the ex-incarcerated find and keep jobs they are hired for, what the hell is the point of constantly talking about us like we are lazy and won't pull our “bootstraps”?? I've been trying to, and you give me a uniform cost without an option to pay later or any other way of helping. Pleading with them resulted in the manager saying that it's not the employers job to help hires. Odd given the urgency you have for needing employees…
I could steal the clothes I need but that would put me right back in jail and I already have a record now. But it seems like for the ex-incarcerated, employers basically expect you to go back to criminal behavior to get anywhere. What the heck am I supposed to do otherwise? It's almost like the whole system is jail>struggle>crime as only option>back in jail. Like it's some sort of game everyone's playing, and then we get the blame, not the ones creating these desperate situationssituations. I'm in no position to walk away because nothing else is available and I can barely get the necessities now, but I can't afford the clothing, but if I steal I risk another round of jail time and that will finish off whatever remaining prospects I have left for a better future.
This is the American employer culture on full display, manipulating the desperate like we are worthless insects to step on because we have zero leverage being previously imprisoned.