Big Changes starting.....

[crosby]

i just read this article and i believe that this is going to affect more than just the state of North Carolina. this may be the first state to do this, but i expect more will follow.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/with-changes-to-its-unemployment-law-nc-becomes-1st-state-to-drop-federal-jobless-funds/2013/06/28/85a8e3a2-dfdc-11e2-8cf3-35c1113cfcc5_story.html

"Because North Carolina leaders cut average weekly benefits for new claims, about 170,000 workers whose state benefits expire this year will lose more than $700 million in EUC payments, the U.S. Labor Department said."

this will have devastating affects for millions if it goes any further.
regards, corson

[pyrangello]

$535.00 a week, here in Michigan the max is around the $ 362.00 a week mark and has been for quite some time. Yeah our state did the same thing and borrowed from the fed to pay for unemployment , racked up some 1 or 2 billion in debt which guess what, the money comes from somewhere doesn't it ? As an employer I am paying $100 per employee per year to help pay this money back . I don't want to get into politics here cause I think both parties suck but this borrowing happened when we had a state democratic governor, democratic senate and democratic house in our state. It was when Hillary was running for president and since our governor was a democratic woman i everything here was a mirror image of what Hillary's model would have been in DC should she have been elected. And guess what Hillary never set foot in Michigan during her campaign because of that , 1 million jobs lost in this state under Gov Jennifer Grandholm in 8 years and yes we were blown away, not all of that was her fault but the majority was. So now we pay it back since shes gone as there are checks and balances in life.

As an employer of 500-600 people in my lifetime, human nature now for many is to collect unemployment to the end and then look for a job, I see it here all the time. Unemployment is there to lend a hand at a time in need and rightfully so. We never know when something is going to happen, just as in bankruptcy, it is there to help you not take advantage of. To give you a fresh start. So that being said unemployment isn't and should not be an income to take a 2 year vacation . Besides almost everyone on unemployment here are working for cash while they are on it anyways .

[Sunny-side-up]

Like most things it/they should't get abused but they do and at the cost of those poor people who really have no other choice.

[Lifebringer]

So the companies over extending on their loans at the banks, will now reneig on payments paid into or promised/contract, causing a breech. They rob with their stock holder buddies on WS, and we pay for their avarice?
Boy, times are topsy- turvy as far as justice moving slowly. God I hope it moves faster to catch those who did this.

NOT surprised the board of elites won't take "any" losses. The Queen always says, it's not the crown that's in debt, it's the people's crown that's in debt. How does it feel to be a colony of England. If England is doing badly, America, will be sick according to the 1789 charter that those traitorous leaders snuck into legislation and gave America back to the Queen.

[crosby]

yes, there are people who take advantage of any situation. unemployment, welfare, bankruptcy, you name it, there is someone waiting to grab it and run. however, there are literally millions of people that are unemployed (11.8, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), where are the real jobs for them? If one can call working in retail and the fast food industry a real job, then by all means. in the state that i live in, the jobs that are available are minimal in scope and duration. a person cannot collect welfare benefits unless they are working at least 25 hours a week. there are few jobs that will offer 25 hours a week in my town, unless you are white collar worker. it is a sign of the times and i see this affecting the populace on a national level. it is being instituted for a reason.
regards, corson

[Knowrainknowrainbows!]

I have been sensitive to socioeconmic factors affecting others (myself included) my entire adult life. I care deeply about people ... I chose a profession of service and am one who recognizes our "system" has become so seductive, complex and convoluted that we've lost so much more than we've gained.

Greed, lust for power, self-absorption, immediate gratification, and materialism has corrupted people of principles. Spiritualality has been compromised and maybe suppressed ...

I am ignorant of the grand economic picture ... I just know a little saying my brother taught me,

When your outgo exceeds your inflow
your upkeep becomes your downfall.

I value people... children are and always have been "our future". We can do better than what we've done. Each moment is new ... opportunities to send/bring positive intent and change on an individual basis ... can have rippling effects for the betterment of others ... quantum leaps that I may not witness in this lifetime but ... "it's not about me".

Am I :rolleyes: off topic

Sorry ... I just wanted to express that a significant part my life journey has been to assist others "less fortunate than myself" ... and I'm part of the shrinking middle class.

Thanks for letting me :lalala:

KRKR

[crosby]

thank you Knowrainknowrainbows! it makes me happy to know that there really are others that care for the less fortunate and others. not off topic at all!

the thing about unemployment rates, is that they are skewed. they do not represent those in poverty, those on disability and veteran's disability. this pushes the numbers higher. here is a link to some statistics:

http://www.disabilitystatistics.org/reports/acs.cfm?statistic=8


here is a paragraph that burns my biscuits from the Wash. Post article:

"The cuts also will push people to find work faster, then move to a better job as the economy improves, she said.

“It may not be the job that you want or your career for the rest of your life. But to take a job, get back into the job market,” Howard said."

like i said, retail and food service (fast food) - you can make minimum wage and put up with more grief in one work day than you typically would in a work year at a job that suited your education and talents.

and here is another interesting article that states the unemployment rate is down because people have just given up on looking for work. they can't find it because it isn't there.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2013/03/08/unemployment-rate-down-as-americans-give-up-on-work/

it is a sad day when a parent cannot feed or house his/her family. the rates are skewed across the board. this will skew it more. and i am convinced that it will happen across the board.
regards, corson

[Delight]

As an employer of 500-600 people in my lifetime, human nature now for many is to collect unemployment to the end and then look for a job, I see it here all the time. Unemployment is there to lend a hand at a time in need and rightfully so. We never know when something is going to happen, just as in bankruptcy, it is there to help you not take advantage of. To give you a fresh start. So that being said unemployment isn't and should not be an income to take a 2 year vacation . Besides almost everyone on unemployment here are working for cash while they are on it anyways .

I once was involved in VERY SMALL business.
It was so small that we were not even big enough for "The small business administration".
We had an inordinate number of claims for unemployment.
In my area, people count on unemployment and other checks, food stamps, on medicaid, on medicare, on disability and nonvoluntrary child support that the courts collect.

I am apolitical. That means I am neither for or against any aspect of government. It is all based on a paradigm that is trap for free beings.
The trap is not a physical one as we all know and is set and sprung when we take the bait of self conception.

The one thing I know I know is that the way we define ourselves is going to define what we experience.
The problems I see are the result FROM people...being willing to allow others to give a definition then live it.
So, what I observe is that IF a person is depending on a source that has a definition of lack, there is hardly any vitality available.
Maybe some one can prove me wrong, someone getting a "check" as the primary source of income AND THRIVING?

What I am very fed up about is the willingness to give emotional and physical "CARE"to the ones who are "sick, poor, nonemployable, traumatized, PTSD (name the DIS ease)" ONLY.

If a person is just doing so WELL, being so rich, beautiful, talented, fulfilled artistically, personally, happy, healthy, at leisure, what remarkable GENIUS shown etc.
What kind of support does "society" give?

And when was the last time you gave a card and flowers and took a hot meal and called and gave special attention when your dear friend, neighbor, family was HAVING A SUPER DAY?
And libraries, art programs, enrichment and support to new incubators for successful bright, creative beings of "WEALTH"...that is what I see as the place to POUR OUT the money and the attention.

There are many reasons that people have always used to be poor.
Some day, maybe people will just ignore ALL the definitions?

[crosby]

Delight, what do you mean by "the willingness to give emotional and physical "CARE"to the ones who are "sick, poor, nonemployable, traumatized, PTSD (name the DIS ease)" ONLY. ?
regards, corson

[Delight]

Delight, what do you mean by "the willingness to give emotional and physical "CARE"to the ones who are "sick, poor, nonemployable, traumatized, PTSD (name the DIS ease)" ONLY. ?
regards, corson

I meant that when a person goes to the hospital (sick), loses someone(grief), etc., the cards, meals, letters and all floods in.
That is not to say it is WRONG to care for the "suffering".
But why din't we overwhelm one another with the same attention for the days where evrything is wonderful?

It is because of the mindset that awards attention to tragedy and ignores THRIVING.
It is the mind and it was lodged there...as you said....for a reason.
Poverty in the recesses of the mind focus of attention to lack.

I will give an example. My friend was just diagnosed with a terrible illness.

When my friend was involved in all sorts of public activity like raising funds for the food pantry and lots of things that were innovative, she was always stressed and scraping by. She received "negativity" and resistance(out of envy?).
She also never had someone calling to say: "You are doing SO much for the community, let me give you some help"
Then she got sick and everyone is sending cards, raising funds, giving meals etc.

Maybe I am being TOO strong to make a point that we do think to do things when the circumstances are BAD.

[crosby]

ahh, i see what you are saying. in my family and amongst my friends, we celebrate the great times too. the birth of a new baby, a graduation, birthdays, holidays. when my friends are fortunate enough to get a newer car, i am happy for them. perhaps it is all segmented and plays out differently in different areas. at the moment my friend 'kathy' just lost her job, so i am trying to help her, at the same time my friend 'allison' just became a grandmother. so i try to help both by baking cookies or doing something for them such as an errand to help them out. now, i don't go to a strangers home and try to help them when something great has happened, basically because i do not know them and they do not know me and i really wouldn't hear about there 'good' thing that has happened anyways.

i don't think you are being too strong in voicing your opinion. i was just needing a little clarification. perhaps it is all in the way that we see what happens around us.
regards, corson

[Delight]

ahh, i see what you are saying. in my family and amongst my friends, we celebrate the great times too. the birth of a new baby, a graduation, birthdays, holidays. when my friends are fortunate enough to get a newer car, i am happy for them. perhaps it is all segmented and plays out differently in different areas. at the moment my friend 'kathy' just lost her job, so i am trying to help her, at the same time my friend 'allison' just became a grandmother. so i try to help both by baking cookies or doing something for them such as an errand to help them out. now, i don't go to a strangers home and try to help them when something great has happened, basically because i do not know them and they do not know me and i really wouldn't hear about there 'good' thing that has happened anyways.

i don't think you are being too strong in voicing your opinion. i was just needing a little clarification. perhaps it is all in the way that we see what happens around us.
regards, corson

I also have to take responsibility for the way I see things. I want to be more knowing about the good things and also focus on celebrating with people (I am talking of my own neglected opportunities). Thanks, Maggie

[Lazlo]

I get flamed every time I say something like this but it needs to be said anyway....:behindsofa:

I have the most ridiculously hard time hiring people with skills. A starting wage is around $18.00/hr with no direct experience, health insurance paid, 12 paid holidays, 2 weeks vacation, personal days, paid sick leave, 401k match, paid training, yada, yada, yada....

I seriously can't get applicants with anything that resembles experience or even a good work history. So I hire people who I think have potential and try to mold them into a professional with marketable skills in a growing industry (commercial solar power, renewable power plant operations and maintenance). As a supervisor or manager, usually after a couple of years, (like I said, growing industry), you make more than a comparably experienced attorney or software engineer. No sh!t, I pay project managers around $80k, bonus program, company car, and always hire internally.

I have a kid working for me right now, early 20's, married, starting a family. He asked me to lay him off so that he could collect unemployment while he figures out what he wants to do.

WTF!!!!!!!

I can't even find enough applicants to fill my open positions and this kid wants to sit at home instead of work.

I had another kid I was interviewing recently. A couple of years out of college, living with his parents, no experience in anything besides a summer in fast food, a degree in underwater basket weaving, a short stint in jail for selling pot, you get the picture. Told him it would be the package described above, and you know what he said?

"That's chump change man, I would never work for that."


AAAAAARRRRGH!!!!!!!

There are jobs everywhere, people just don't want them. I hear it every time I elbow up to the bar at happy hour with the local contractors and business owners:

Can't find anybody that wants to work.

[Another1]

"That's chump change man, I would never work for that."

I've heard that one a lot *LOL* ~ In all my conditioning through society, unemployment has been seen as a poor man's paid vacation. The concept made me sick and I earned a lot of grief from people over it, others were amused. One employer found it funny but took advantage of my tude, he gave me make-work through a winter and I remodelled his ex wife's house.

Solar Power to me is an industry that could be worked in for the fun of it. I'm surprised you don't have geeks looking for you and asking for work?

[Lazlo]

Solar Power to me is an industry that could be worked in for the fun of it. I'm surprised you don't have geeks looking for you and asking for work?

That's how I feel about it and am constantly amazed by the lack of interest. I think some people are scared off because at the utility level, there are some pretty serious voltages (up to 340KV at the interconnect) and advanced SCADA systems. The other part is apathy. I give out cards all the time to people who ask if I am hiring and then they never bother to call or email.

I used to work for a guy who said that one of the best things for small businesses is a recession, because you get really good quality people coming and looking for jobs. This may have been true in the past, but with the stigma of accepting unemployment being gone, I am not sure that this is still valid.

Maybe this will change as UE benefits are scaled back. I will have a hard time keeping a straight face when I ask someone why they didn't apply when the position was open 6 months ago and they answer that they were still getting gov't checks at that time. :suspicious:

[crosby]

i see that kind of problem.....and it does exist. well, if its lazy they want, i don't think its lazy their gonna get...... heck, if i had any idea of what you were talking about (not up to speed on that kind of stuff) and what kind of work you do Lazlo, i would come work for you.... the voltage thing sounds scary though:behindsofa:
regards, corson

[pyrangello]

Were having the same problem here in northern Michigan with the free meal ticket, I don't want to work that hard, ect ect. Honestly the biggest problem I see is people having to pass a drug test. I ran into a guy/ vet 3 weeks ago in Detroit one night while I was walking out of a hotel. He was about 24 years , just got back from Iraq/afganistan and was working in ohio on the pipelines laying natural gas lines. He had his girlfriend and dog with him and we started talking . Said he was making $38.00 an hour and will make 100k this year. Biggest problem he said to get workers, guys can't pass the drug test.

Ran into another guy in the thumb area , there doing wiring for wind turbines, biggest problem they can't get people , can't pass a drug test.

Know another guy , hired a 26 year old guy to drive a semi moving equipment around in detroit , failed the drug test , would have paid 90k with OT.

Spoke to a surveyor here locally last week, he said did I know this past employee who was working at a scarp yard north of here , I said yes, he said 3 weeks ago they did a random drug test. They had 7 guys working the yard. One guy raised his hand and said I can't pass, results came back that day and 4 more failed so they were down to 2, couldn't pass a drug test.

Now me personally I have tons of stories, I remember one year I loaned money out to a bunch of people in the company over $10,000. I just decided to 1099 them on their taxes instead of asking them all to pay me back. Put in the company newsletter $200.00 limit on borrowing from that point on. That Friday 3 guys came to me and asked me for their $200.00. OMG.

And now I have a office person who quit last year , collected unemployment and then turned around and is now suing me because she says I discriminated against her . Here's the best part , it's gonna cost me $10,000 just to get it in front of the judge to see if I can get it thrown out due to no merit and I don't get any of my money back . What does she want now that she's not working, MONEY to settle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 90% of lawsuits settle out of court , not this one.

I think we should just have mandatory drug testing for all recipients of govn't sponsored funding . I have more stories but I'll stop there.

Now looking at this , I'll bet you could say , hey your a business guy, you can afford it, Last year was the worst year I ever had , I've done pretty good over the years but last year many of my workers made more money than me for the year. It's just an understanding within myself that I take the good with the bad. I will say this , the more money I make in profit , the more money I donate to charitable causes in time and money. I still give out short term loans to people here at my shop, I still bail there butts out of jail , I still listen when they have problems and let them borrow things here. But I've learned and just when you think you have seen everything , here comes a new one. It is up to many who are better off to assist those who need a hand up to get them self sustainable . And then there are those who need care for most of their life as well. As it stands now it's up to all of us to look past party BS and pick the person who is right most of the time , not all because that's a fantasy and drive them to leadership on a local, state and national level to keep the system we support in check to maintain a balance of decency and respect of who we are as a people and nation. I still have much hope but it's going to be a bit bumpy coming up.

[crosby]

from my view and in my area, i am seeing people that just cannot find a job in their field. there are some that are just plain lazy and abuse the system, but there truly are many who cannot find a job in what they were educated for. imagine spending 10's of thousands of dollars on an education to end up working for 8 dollars an hour at some smarmy retail chain store. and then, voila, you get to move up to assistant store manager and make 10.50 an hour, but only work 20 hours a week. attrition is killing the work force and some people have really just given up. i can't speak for the ones who think they are taking a long unemployed vacation, but i can speak for those that i see paying the price for the outsourcing of American jobs.
regards, corson

[Mulder]

Hi Corson, your article about NC is proof of what I've said all along: that the Govt is going to slowly cut welfare all together! The steps I've read about are:
1. Teach about a great "post industrial" society in Colleges
2. Reduce workers pay and conditions
3. Send as many jobs as possible to China, etc. as the pay is still cheaper there.
4. Have a safety net for the unemployed, old, etc. so there's no protest about No.3
5. Reduce safety net for the young first, then old pensioners last.
6. The Govt ends up owning most real estate, & businesses as people can't pay property taxes, etc.

[ghostrider]

I see job openings everywhere, people on un-employment feel entitled to a two year vacation , like it's the companies fault that the employee didn't do a good job ... or the workers have no idea what it takes to keep the doors open in a business, sometimes to make payroll the owner takes a loss or nothing for a paycheck just to stay solid ... the local sherwin williams near me is a prime example, they have been looking for a warm body for six months, 15pr hr, asst manager, no applicants... half of us working , the other half on benefits, it won't be long and there won't be enough working so the government can take it and give it to able body twenty somethings who's only concern is TV and their cell phone , they could care less about the future or the next generation ...how did I sign up to provide for someone half my age and pay for their children and every little whim they expect , and their are irresponsible and keep having children , adding to the need for my money to support their ignorance... if you can't afford it, don't have more children, everyone suffers ... personal responsibilty is gone out the window these days ... okay thats my rant ...

[crosby]

here's an example of the jobs that i see listed in my area: truck drivers wanted OTR, we will train; pizza shop delivery person(pt); babysitter needed in my home 10 hrs/week; waitress/waiters (local pubs & rests.); line cook needed (local rests.); bank teller (pt); now these are just an example, and the best paying job out of what i have posted is the truck driver job, pay wise, but this will take many months of training and certification, the rest are all low wage paying jobs and based on part time hours and no benefits. if one happens to get into the retail sector, you must make yourself available for all shifts, weekdays and weekends..... they will change your schedule constantly so that you really must be available - this makes it difficult to find another part time job, because they want you to be available for all shifts as well..... it can be done, but it is tricky.

years ago, the local industry used to be coal. many people (in fact, the majority of the local male population), used to work in the coal mining industry. the young men that i went to school with did not go to college, they followed in their father's footsteps and went into the mines. many, if not most of the female population got married to the young coal miners and had children, the unemployment rate was very low and our downtown area was always very busy. then the mines began to close; unemployment rates went up; and then a whole lot of other variables began to take shape and change the mindsets of many. i am not even sure that anyone noticed what was happening for several years.....

i know that there are many people out there that will just not work, they feel entitled to something more. perhaps it is the result of the medications they are taking and the water they are drinking..... but the local university and the local business college is putting out graduates twice a year, i have no idea where they are going with their degrees. i know that a majority will go back to their own hometowns and countries, where ever that may be, but the local graduates will have to leave this area and to go to a larger city where they have a better chance at getting their foot in the door. but going to a bigger city means higher rents and costs of living. if you haven't saved every cent of your $2.89/hr job as a waitress during your 4 years at school, you aren't going to be able to go anywhere. big cat and mouse game. very sad when you look at it.

regards, corson

[pyrangello]

Corson, yeah I know there are many areas of the states where there is no work, I remember a few years ago being on my motorcycle traveling on the northwest side of Missouri, town after town just dead and closed up buildings, same thing near me here in northern Michigan , a lot of small towns are struggling. I do see many bright spots though, the generation of today and my generation are going back into manufacturing starting new innovative ideas to create jobs and not just sit back and say why me. I'm a perfect example. right out of the air force right out of high school I started a business with a $100 truck and welder. 12 years later was doing 8 million in sales and had over 50 people employed, then lost it all for a whole bunch of reasons. Bigger isn't always better. Took me a few years to get back on my feet but always told myself it's going to get better. And it did. Johnny Carson said one time when asked , Boy you sure are lucky to do what you do for a living, Johnny's response was "It's not about being lucky , but being ready for the opportunity when it happens ! " . This is America and yes we can do this, I am optimistic.

Oh so Friday I found out one of my employees here decided to stop at a casino last week with my service truck and threatened the 18 year old kid to not say a word, she's 54 years old. Bam just when you saw it all, and the best one yet, was talking to a buddy of mine who is a truck driver in the national army guard. He said they give random drug tests all the time , since he's in command of his unit he has to stand there for the guys and watch them pull out there unit and watch them pee into the cup for the test. Now get this , he was telling me guys that are doing drugs have been buying this thing called a "whistenator " LOL, It's a fake unit that you can pull out and when you press your elbow on your side it pees out of the unit. LOL, OMG. He said the one guy that took the drug test last week would have past but he was white and his whisenator was black , lol. So it was a little hard to explain that one.

America will bounce back , we will prevail again, lots retiring and lots of positions coming available , all the reason to smile and with the internet and an open market worldwide a better reason to smile. :)

¤=[Post Update]=¤

The whisenator , now there's innovation except for I probably spelled it wrong, lol.

[crosby]

hahahhahahahahah..... what a great marketing concept....... hahahahaha....... ooh pyrangello, that is the funniest thing i have heard all week. i am celebrating my 50th birthday today with friends and family and i can guarantee that i will show them your post so that they can share in the laughter!!!!!!! giggle
warmest regards, corson