Unemployment FTW

iemployee20people wrote:

My previous post was referring to "Blowing Rock Master". This sense of entiltlement, because someone else has and can pay, is in my very humble thoughts - a dangerous mindset. I see it frequently, especially in youg adults. But like I said if you it makes you feel better - keep trying to convince yourself that living off of someone else because they "may" have the ability to pay is ok. And before someone else gets upset about humanity - I give more to charities in any given year that I bet some of you make in a year.

You really don't understand where unemployment comes from do you?

Please educate yourself. Unemployment is not welfare.

A look at the maximum weekly unemployment benefits available in each state.

Alabama — $235

Alaska — $320

Arizona — $240

Arkansas — $409

California — $450

Colorado — $455

Connecticut — $576

Delaware — $330

District of Columbia — $359

Florida — $275

Georgia — $320

Hawaii — $523

Idaho — $364

Illinois — $511

Indiana — $390

Iowa — $426

Kansas — $407

Kentucky — $415

Louisiana — $258

Maine — $496

Maryland — $380

Massachusetts — $900

Michigan — $362

Minnesota — $538

Mississippi — $210

Missouri — $320

Montana — $386

Nebraska — $298

Nevada — $362

New Hampshire — $427

New Jersey — $560

New Mexico — $455

New York — $405

North Carolina — $476

North Dakota — $385

Ohio — $493

Oklahoma — $392

Oregon — $463

Pennsylvania — $547

Puerto Rico — $133

Rhode Island — $641

South Carolina — $326

South Dakota — $285

Tennessee — $275

Texas — $378

Utah — $427

Vermont — $409

Virginia _$363

Virgin Islands — $454

Washington — $515

West Virginia — $408

Wisconsin — $355

Wyoming — $387

___

All figures are as of Jan. 1, 2008, and may have since changed.

As someone writing from outside of the USA, why are there such a dramatic differences?

E.g. Arizona — $240 yet New Mexico — $455

is there this much of a cost of living difference?

Massachusetts — $900 California — $450

Florida — $275 Utah — $427 ?

To the OP- not sure what state you live in but there are different "stages" of unemployment. 26 weeks might be the first stage, then you go on to the first stage of emergency unemployment, then the second and finally you get to the current emergency unemployment stage which has no end date, they will keep paying you until the economy turns around. We have that in CT right now because so many people are on unemployment that they basically can't end their benefits because of the shock it would be to the local economy.

They are state implemented programs, so each legislature gets to decide many of the parameters of the program.

You don't deserve a job if you use "FTW".

Hmm well isn't that funny.. I'm in CT myself. I had heard "39 weeks" tossed around but so far I have only read 26 weeks as the official number. I haven't looked too deeply into it because hopefully I will find meaningful work within six months but I really do think it's amazing unemployment exists.

To all the haters- the process of losing my job was totally horrendous and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (ah well I made some "worst enemies" in the process, but I don't even wish it on them). The industry I worked in is drying up and where there were tons of openings even a couple years ago, now there is nothing. I'm in school to expand my skills and I'm keeping my eyes open for the next thing. What more can ya really do than that?

For now I'm taking a few weeks or months off, whatever it may be, to decompress from the stress of losing my job (which was a many-months process) and enjoy my life for the first time in a long time, be outdoors in the beautiful summer weather, run and train like I haven't been able to, and maybe have some off-the-beaten-path experiences.

Also, unemployment comes from insurance that your employer pays while you are employed there. It is a raw deal for YOUR EMPLOYER and they try to avoid cutting people for that reason. It doesn't come from your "tax payer dollars". Well, there is a $25 a week subsidy that comes from the Federal gov't. But really, gimme an f'in break.

Not really. Sorry if you are offended. What I do know is that i write a quarterly workforce development (unemploment - funny how they have changed the name to make it sound better) check based on a percentage of my company's payroll. Of that total percentage my employees pay a smaller portion. I on the otherhand gain little, if anything from that tax. That benefits those that I would lay off. However, even in this slow economic times - we are adding people (four last Month) and have never laid anyone off in the 20 years I have been in business - I have had a few draw unemployment because they were fired, and I had trouble documenting the why and how. Since you are educated on this issue I am assuming that you write a check each quarter based upon the payrioll you have and the number of people you employee. By the way how many people do you employ? I hope you are not making judgements otherwise. Of course now my state wants to increase that payroll percentage because the fund is broke. It is ok for me to question WHY the fund is broke and WHY I should pay for it.

Tough luck dole queue. I've been there, as many of us have.

It's great that you have been able to find something positive of the situation. Things will get better! Your next job will be better - that's the way it always goes.

dole queue wrote:

To all the haters- the process of losing my job was totally horrendous and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (ah well I made some "worst enemies" in the process, but I don't even wish it on them). The industry I worked in is drying up and where there were tons of openings even a couple years ago, now there is nothing.

Law?

Even better ...

finance.

Absolutely you should question it. And while I understand both sides of the debate, this attitude of "I'll take a break and take my time finding a new job" irks the hell out of me. It reminds me of the kid in college who had no business being there, adding nothing constructive to the conversation, spending more money on booze than on tuition, and otherwise taking SOMEONE else's parking spot and classroom space in an already impacted class. And that same person predictably winds up underemployed without a solid skill set, only to have to rely on the dole provided by someone else. Can't find a job? That sucks and I feel for you, but, in the meantime, go enhance your skillset, take some computer programming, business, or engineering courses, learn Spanish or another language, volunteer at a local church... in short, make yourself more productive and a better potential hire for the next go-round.

Go back to school and get a degree in a hard science or engineering. Then get an MBA with a concentration in finance.

Hm .. not sure if you are just directing that at the general unemployed population, but if you're directing it at me then I suggest you go back and re-read my posts.

Every situation is unique and I'm sure you would agree that it doesn't really make sense to make a blanket judgment that covers every case.

I don't really get your analogy either and I don't see how there's anything wrong with taking the time to find a job that is right for me. Yeah, I could deny unemployment checks and go work at McD's as someone suggested. How would that be helping myself or anyone else? I'm in school, "enhancing my skillset", and planning on doing some volunteering, and have enough in (non-retirement) savings to last at least two years even without unemployment. I have rushed into underemployment in the past just to be working and from experience, I think it is one of the worst things you can do. This time I am taking advantage of a good system that is in place for just such cases as mine. Don't act like I'm doing something illegal or immoral.

Last time I checked there was nothing wrong with enjoying life. Then again, it has been awhile.

Sagarun wrote:

Go back to school and get a degree in a hard science or engineering. Then get an MBA with a concentration in finance.

I don't know if you think you are mocking me or what with this perpetual post and moniker, but that's PRECISELY what I did, and almost what I would recommend.

dole queue wrote:

Hm .. not sure if you are just directing that at the general unemployed population, but if you're directing it at me then I suggest you go back and re-read my posts.

I was not directing it at you per se, just the general attitude, which is far too pervasive in our society.

I believe it's the same attitude that has been and will continue to undermine our once great "empire." This expectation that you can continue to do the same thing that you've always done, not adapt to change and invest in yourself or your country, and expect a cost of living adjustment every year and a government that will bail you out should you fail --all the while the rest of the world is rapidly catching up and ready to eat our lunch. And the "rich" will, in time, either no longer be rich or flee. And we will ALL suffer. A buddy of mine works for a hedge fund in California that is going to close their doors and move out of state because of California's newly onerous fiscal policy coming down the pipe. Think that will leave California in a better situation? Think that can't happen on a country-wide level?

Why are there billions in the stimulus package earmarked for the unemployed?The Unemployment Insurance fund is only sufficient to cover the unemployment payments in good times.In bad times like now it's the taxpayer who doles out the monies because at 519 a week the Insurance gets depleted in no time.

Blowing Rock Master wrote:

Are you going to refuse your Social Security benefits also? The whole time you're working your employer is paying into the Unemployment Insurance fund. This is money that could possibly have gone to you as wages. Over a lifetime more money will be paid into this fund on your behalf than you are likely to receive as unemployment payments. This isn't welfare.

You are off the corporate ladder. HR people will treat you as suspect. They don't care if you take classes to supposedly improve your skill set. Volunteering? They don't care. Taking Spanish classes/semi fluent in it? Nobody cares. Computer science or math classes? They don't give a shit. If you have the wrong degree, you've slipped up and you are out of luck. A worthless MBA won't help either.

I've been unemployed for the last 9 months. Unfortunately I do not qualify for unemployment insurance. Life isn't too bad though, it is just really hard picking up woman when you don't have a job. Everyting else is great though.