How Many People Are Not Even Looking For Work

[firstdown]

I did a survey kind of back in the mid. 80's about people looking for work and the numbers said they don't want to work. I worked for my father for 5 years prior to opening up my business and it seemed that about once a month some girl would call out of the blue looking for a job. After I said we where not hiring they would then ask if they could use my name and business for their unemployment requirments which I'd said no. Then came my idea. When the next person called and asked about using us as a referal for unemployment I'd say no but I had good friend just down the street that was looking for a full time employee with good benifits and pay. I would then give them my back line to see how many would call about this job. Well out of about 35 to 40 only one person ever called to see about the job. I know thats not real snap shot of whats going on now but I was really surprised at the results. I did know that most of these people did not want to work I just wanted them to confirm my belief that many take advantage of the system.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I did a survey kind of back in the mid. 80's about people looking for work and the numbers said they don't want to work. I worked for my father for 5 years prior to opening up my business and it seemed that about once a month some girl would call out of the blue looking for a job. After I said we where not hiring they would then ask if they could use my name and business for their unemployment requirments which I'd said no. Then came my idea. When the next person called and asked about using us as a referal for unemployment I'd say no but I had good friend just down the street that was looking for a full time employee with good benifits and pay. I would then give them my back line to see how many would call about this job. Well out of about 35 to 40 only one person ever called to see about the job. I know thats not real snap shot of whats going on now but I was really surprised at the results. I did know that most of these people did not want to work I just wanted them to confirm my belief that many take advantage of the system.

That happens a lot of times to my dad. He would even hire some people and they'd turnaround and quit the next day. There a bunch of weasels out there who only care about getting paid without doing any work.

As far as taking sometime off after getting laid-off I don't have a problem with that. It's kinda dumb to kill your savings though. I can understand taking advantage of your severance package...I know I would take 2 months off out of 4 month severance pay that I would receive if got the pink slip.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by saden1

That happens a lot of times to my dad. He would even hire some people and they'd turnaround and quit the next day. There a bunch of weasels out there who only care about getting paid without doing any work.

As far as taking sometime off after getting laid-off I don't have a problem with that. It's kinda dumb to kill your savings though. I can understand taking advantage of your severance package...I know I would take 2 months off out of 4 month severance pay that I would receive if got the pink slip.

Our area did a good job with getting people back working when Clinton and Congress passed the Welfair reform bill but that was all just blowing out of the water with the stimulas package. So now welfare requirments are pretty much back to what they were before they passed the reform. I agree I'd take a week or so off but I'd want to find a job and save that severence money away for retirement.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Our area did a good job with getting people back working when Clinton and Congress passed the Welfair reform bill but that was all just blowing out of the water with the stimulas package. So now welfare requirments are pretty much back to what they were before they passed the reform. I agree I'd take a week or so off but I'd want to find a job and save that severence money away for retirement.

Huh? I didn't know unemployment and welfare were interchangeable. Did I miss something with the stimulus? Or are you just being a stimulus hater who think the stimulus is another form of welfare?

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

If they were just living off savings alone, that would be one thing. But they're collecting unemployment checks while they "reconnect with their hobbies." Get a fuggin job! If you want to stay home because you enjoy it, fine, but don't make me pay for it through my taxes. That's the kneejerk argument.

Now, the reality of this article is life sucks for these people who are laid off. They may smile, put on a happy face, and look on the bright side by telling you "hey, this is great, I get to stay home with my kids!" But even if they have plenty of savings, truth be told, they'd rather be working. And that's why they're looking for employment. This article paints an artificially sunny view of their situations.

It's just rather uncool to come out in an article and say "look at me, I'm having fun while I collect your tax dollars through the unemployment program!"

You know, unemployment is based on what you put into it, and in VA the maximum is 379/week. Not like anyone's getting rich, and the check that i get every week is based on MY ****ing taxes. I'm actively searching for work and working for myself even though every week I work i lose the money in unemployment benefits, so I've worked for free for 2 weeks, basically.

But I'll be the absolute first to admit I go to the gym longer than I ever have, I take my daughter to school every day, and I dont spend 40 hours a week looking for a job. I do put in about 10 resume's a week (8 more than the required 2, which i think is a joke) but there's really not a whole lot out there and the competition is stiff.

[724Skinsfan]

EE, I take it you're not happy about being unemployed, clearly not what is expressed by the people in the article firstdown, Schneed and a few others are talking about.

What gets me is the "worst crisis since the Great Depression" talk and then reading articles like this about how it's not so bad. When I got laid off 7 years ago, I went to Europe for a month. I had no bills or a family to support and had saved up 6 months salary. After my month vacation I came back and started looking for a job. It took 5 months and a little extra anxiety before I was employed again. My point is I wouldn't assume (not you EE) that you'll be able to find a job when you're savings/severance runs out. The article seems to hint that these people think they'll work eventually when they need the money. Could be a nasty wake up call in ~6 months.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by EternalEnigma21

You know, unemployment is based on what you put into it, and in VA the maximum is 379/week. Not like anyone's getting rich, and the check that i get every week is based on MY ****ing taxes. I'm actively searching for work and working for myself even though every week I work i lose the money in unemployment benefits, so I've worked for free for 2 weeks, basically.

But I'll be the absolute first to admit I go to the gym longer than I ever have, I take my daughter to school every day, and I dont spend 40 hours a week looking for a job. I do put in about 10 resume's a week (8 more than the required 2, which i think is a joke) but there's really not a whole lot out there and the competition is stiff.

On a side note EE, I like how your Omega Contractor's website is burgundy and gold. Well done.

[MTK]

This article isn't about people bragging about living off the system like some lazy bums who don't want to work. This is people making the best of a shitty situation. Lame thread.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

This article isn't about people bragging about living off the system like some lazy bums who don't want to work. This is people making the best of a shitty situation. Lame thread.

I'm all for people making the best of a situation but several of these people said they are not even looking for a job while collecting unemployment. So yes they are taking a free ride off tax payer money and also money they saved. So they kick back now and when their unemployment runs out and their savings is gone who's going to suport them then. If they would have just said hey I'm looking for work but I cannot find a job so I'm making the best of my situation then I would not care.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by EternalEnigma21

You know, unemployment is based on what you put into it, and in VA the maximum is 379/week. Not like anyone's getting rich, and the check that i get every week is based on MY ****ing taxes. I'm actively searching for work and working for myself even though every week I work i lose the money in unemployment benefits, so I've worked for free for 2 weeks, basically.

But I'll be the absolute first to admit I go to the gym longer than I ever have, I take my daughter to school every day, and I dont spend 40 hours a week looking for a job. I do put in about 10 resume's a week (8 more than the required 2, which i think is a joke) but there's really not a whole lot out there and the competition is stiff.

Sorry but you are wrong its based of your salery and the employer pays the federal and state unemployment tax.

Unemployment Insurance Taxes
Unemployment Insurance (UI) is a federal-state program jointly financed through federal and state employer payroll taxes (federal/state UI tax). Generally, employers must pay both state and federal unemployment taxes if: (1) they pay wages to employees totaling $1,500, or more, in any quarter of a calendar year; or, (2) they had at least one employee during any day of a week during 20 weeks in a calendar year, regardless of whether or not the weeks were consecutive. However, some state laws differ from the federal law and employers should contact their state workforce agencies to learn the exact requirements. Click here for state links.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by saden1

Huh? I didn't know unemployment and welfare were interchangeable. Did I miss something with the stimulus? Or are you just being a stimulus hater who think the stimulus is another form of welfare?

No the stimulas bill took away the way states had to account for getting people off welfair which was passed as sweeping reforms by Clinton and congress. It waters it down so they really don't have to account for getting people off welfair. I have read this several times and unless it was removed by from the stimulas bill in the last minute it was in there. Its like they now let the sates use numbers in only ways the goverment knows how to. You know like when they cut spending but they only cut how much they increase spending but still call it a cut.

Her is an article that explains what they did.Obama's stimulus bill reverses Clinton's welfare reform | Midwest Voices

[MTK]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I'm all for people making the best of a situation but several of these people said they are not even looking for a job while collecting unemployment. So yes they are taking a free ride off tax payer money and also money they saved. So they kick back now and when their unemployment runs out and their savings is gone who's going to suport them then. If they would have just said hey I'm looking for work but I cannot find a job so I'm making the best of my situation then I would not care.

From the sounds of it the people mentioned in this article are educated and are in the position where they can live off their savings for a while along with unemployment. If they were in a serious crunch they perhaps would be more serious about a job search. In a tough economy it's not exactly an easy thing to go out and find another job, so some are choosing to allow for some "me time" while they get things back in order.

Just look at the title of the article, "For now, laid off and loving it".

These people aren't the root of the problems with welfare. This article just wasn't the best choice for trying to open that can of worms.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

From the sounds of it the people mentioned in this article are educated and are in the position where they can live off their savings for a while along with unemployment. If they were in a serious crunch they perhaps would be more serious about a job search. In a tough economy it's not exactly an easy thing to go out and find another job, so some are choosing to allow for some "me time" while they get things back in order.

Just look at the title of the article, "For now, laid off and loving it".

These people aren't the root of the problems with welfare. This article just wasn't the best choice for trying to open that can of worms.

So when people like this use up all their money and now find they cannot find a job (they might have if they didn't wait) who is going to support them at that point?

[MTK]

Of course there are folks that take advantage of the system, I just don't think the people in this article are a big problem.

You want to talk about people that are truly sucking off the system I see them every day. People that sprain an ankle and are out of work for a year. Meanwhile I see a guy who breaks a leg and is back to work in 2 weeks.

I get the basic idea of this thread FD, but the choice of article is a little poor in comparison to your point.

[djnemo65]

How carefully did you read your link First? It profiles a laid off software engineer who, while having started looking for a job already, is cherishing the extra time he gets to spend with his kids; a laid off 41 year old who hasn't even started collecting unemployment yet; and an educational trainer who is now kind of a housewife (and also presumably not on unemployment).

As usual, you started with your political belief - welfare is bad - and worked backwards, not seeming to notice or care that this article has little to do with your actual argument.