Factors influencing hiring decisions for welfare recipients

Changes in welfare legislation including the enactment of the Work First policy make it essential to examine the discrimination that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients face in obtaining employment. Eighty-one employees of temporary employment agencies (58 women, 22 men, and 1 gender unidentified) participated in a study of hiring decisions for TANF recipient and African American job applicants. The study involved participants evaluating hypothetical applicants\u27 resumes for a fast food restaurant cashier or an administrative assistant position. Hypothetical applicants were identified as a TANF or non-TANF recipient and as African American or White. The study examined the relationship between evaluation of applicants and the following factors: (1) applicant characteristics; (2) participant characteristics; (3) organizational variables, and (4) job type. Results indicated the importance of job type as a mediator for hiring decisions. TANF recipients and African Americans were less likely to be recommended to be hired for an administrative assistant position than for a fast food restaurant cashier position. Overall, the findings suggest that members of stigmatized groups may face greater discrimination when applying for higher status positions, for which employers may perceive them to be unqualified. Further study of employment discrimination suffered by TANF recipients is essential and will have valuable applications for public policy development and implementation