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Laid off H-1B tech workers get help

Written on
Feb 20, 2009 
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Reuters Group  |
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Laid off H-1B tech workers get help

pinkslips_small.jpgREUTERS — Technology companies, which have laid off hundreds of thousands of workers, are already feeling the heat from politicians about their support of the H-1B foreign worker program at a time when many Americans are jobless.

Last month, Microsoft was the specific target of Republican Senator Charles Grassley, who shot off a letter to the tech bellwether saying it should lay off foreign workers before laying off domestic workers.

Microsoft responded it was laying off both H-1B workers and Americans, and that it was extending support equally to all affected employees. While that may be the case, foreign workers often have a harder time if they’re laid off.

Under the H-1B visa rules, a worker who loses his job cannot stay on in the United States without changing to a different visa or finding another job. With layoffs all around, it’s not the best market in which to find a job, which means foreign workers could be forced to drop their American lives and head back home.

But some recruiters say companies are sympathetic to the plight of these workers. Recruiter Adam Charlson, who works at Korn/Ferry International’s Silicon Valley office, said companies have been quite aggressive about trying to protect people on H-1B visas. “Organizations are actively doing whatever possible to keep the loopholes open to help H-1Bs find other employment,” he said.

That could mean setting an employment termination date in the future so that the laid-off foreign worker has some time to look for another job or settle his affairs, he said. It could also include things like outplacement services, including helping people brush up on interview skills and writing resumes, and even emotional counseling.

Outplacement services can be especially helpful for H-1B workers, said John Challenger, CEO of outplacement services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Unlike their American counterparts, foreign workers may not have access to informal networks — such as alumni groups and family networks — which can ofte provide leads for new jobs, he said. Tough times for all.

Reported by Anupreeta Das for Reuters Group.

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Reader Comments.

This is outrageous.

Where is the concern for the millions of U.S. workers thrown out of jobs?

Why is it such a bad thing for a temporary foreign worker to be repatriated to his or her own country? That was the arrangement they agreed to.

Posted by ShowMeConcern | 6:55 pm on February 20, 2009.

ShowMeConcern – It is not outrageous at all.Your point of view is skewed because you have never faced this plight.How would you feel if you moved to a different city from my home where you could have a better life, and then are told you have a month to pack up and leave because you dont have a job anymore? Foreign workers have to prove twice as hard that they are worthy to be here.And it is not easy to go back home once you have assimilated yourself in the US and made a life for family.

H-1B Visas are approved for a reason – companies have to prove that they cannot find a U.S worker to do a particular job before they apply for visas for a foreign worker who poessess that certain skillset. SO in this case we have earned the right as much as any US citizen to be here based on our experience and ability to do the job.And we should be given the same amount of compassion that US workers are given in a situation where you work really hard, but are laid off due to extenuating circumstances.We work just as hard as anybody else here.Not to mention we have to pay taxes just like every American , but on an H-1B Visa you don’t get the benefits of those taxes.But we take on the plight because we have a genuine love for being here and making our lives here.

The reason the US has such a diverse amount of talent and skill with such advanced markets is because this country was built on immigration and people tend to forget that.Please stop and think before you blame the country’s problems on foreign workers.

Posted by H-1 B Holder | 7:39 pm on February 20, 2009.

Countries should stop devaluing their currencies against USD. Countries hsould stop accepting payment in USD for international debt. Americans are not grateful to the rest of the world for giving away goods and services on infinite debt. Look at their trade deficits. Let Americans live like the rest of the world. Letz reduce the standard of american living. Stop exports to America. Let them make their own ipods and buy it for 1000$

Posted by Techie | 9:01 pm on February 23, 2009.

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