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White House’s ‘Tone-Deaf’ Ad Asks Unemployed Americans To Just Find Another Job
By Thanussha Priyah, 15 Jul 2020
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Image via Ad Council
It’s no surprise that the coronavirus pandemic has affected job security for many around the world.
When the COVID-19 crisis hit the US back in March, millions of Americans were suddenly left without jobs. With the pandemic lingering on, many are in fear of unemployment and financial strain.
The White House has now launched a new ad campaign with the Ad Council to encourage Americans to simply “find something new,” which is also the name of the campaign.
The Find Something New initiative urges Americans to find another job amid the pandemic. The video shows everyday people sharing their experiences with finding career opportunities after being laid off or dropping their chosen paths.
“This initiative is about challenging the idea the traditional two and four-year college is the only option to acquire the skills needed to secure a job,” a White House adviser wrote in a Twitter post. “This work has never been more urgent.”
The ad is backed by several companies like Apple, IBM, GM, JP Morgan, and Lockheed Martin. However, there aren't any details on how these companies will support unemployed Americans.
As reported by the Washington Post, the Labor Department cites 5.4 million current job openings in the nation. However, there are still an estimated 18 million unemployed Americans and 33 million Americans who are receiving unemployment benefits.
The website hopes to offer Americans resources to “rising careers, as well as a directory of services like childcare, food assistance, and internet access.” As of today, the only job opportunity listed on the Find Something New website is contact tracer.
The campaign, however, was hit with backlash online for supposedly being “tone-deaf” and “insensitive .”
“Go find something new in the middle of this pandemic while no one is hiring! Perhaps your father will hire you!” Jessica Huseman from nonprofit organization ProPublica wrote on Twitter.
Another Twitter user suggested, “You need to learn to read a room. And by room, I mean America.”
Oh my god. Fits perfectly with their belief that the real problem is people don’t want to work not that there’s a raging pandemic and massive business closure/job loss!!! https://t.co/ZElfPMe0cS
— Krystal Ball (@krystalball) July 14, 2020
Whether you’re entering the workforce for the 1st time or need to pivot and retrain due to Covid-19, explore all your options to acquire in-demand job skills at https://t.co/dRZMdZyON4 https://t.co/9kf5eANSib
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 14, 2020
[via Fast Company, cover image via Ad Council]
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