Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Random Ramblings
I suppose this is what a blog is for but since the board has been crawling along I wanted to share my ramblings and questions for today?.
My husband continues to be unemployed and looking daily for a new job with not much luck. I?m asked everyday ? ?How is Tom?s job search going? Has he found anything?? Sure he?s getting leads but there either not worth the pay the paper is written on (to put this in perspective think of a Doctor being asked to serve burgers at a fast food chain ? no offense to anyone in that field) or in Timbuktu. To add to the frustration, unemployment only pays $10,000 annually. Once it?s gone, it?s gone until the next year when you can begin to collect unemployment again. I like to think I?m an optimistic person and that $10,000 would never be reached but I?m seeing the worst out there; friends who have been unemployed for longer than 6mos. Tom?s been out of work for 4 months now and it's just not looking good for him.
Now, I?m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth but $10,000 seems awfully small considering. Is it just me? I guess I find it VERY unfair for the government to provide a max allotted amount considering the current economic state. Just last month 663,000 people were laid off and the numbers continue to rise from one month to the next. This makes it even more difficult for those impacted to find a job ? they have competition. People are struggling, competing against the next guy and sucking up their pride just to snag a job paying whatever. It?s a sad state of affairs we people are dealing with all b/c big companies made bad business decisions.
And as the wife of someone who is unemployed, I deal with the ego factor and depression on what seems like a daily basis. It?s becoming harder and harder with each passing day to find new ways to motivate and cheerlead for my husband. I know I can?t be the only one out there. I pray and thank God daily for the job that I have and how he has blessed our family but I also pray that my husband (and my friends/family who have been impacted) find some relief sooner rather than later.
For those impacted or know of someone who has been impacted, what are you doing to help keep them positive/upward looking?
Do you think it?s right to have a max allotment for unemployment benefits especially when we the taxpayer pay into this benefit?
Do you think it?s right for companies to under pay employees who have been laid off simply because of the current economic state?
Re: Random Ramblings
For those impacted or know of someone who has been impacted, what are you doing to help keep them positive/upward looking?
We aren't currently impacted, but it took DH about 8 months of seriously looking to find a job. It was incredibly difficult when people would constantly ask me about it and he also was depressed and felt like he wasn't providing for us. I just kept telling him that he would find something great and everything would be perfect and we would be happy. I don't know that it helped all that much - I think the biggest thing was just to support him and make sure he knew he was still a "man" even though he didn't have a job.
Do you think it?s right to have a max allotment for unemployment benefits especially when we the taxpayer pay into this benefit?
I think the max allotment is appropriate when people aren't really trying to get a job and would rather be on unemployment. Unfortunately, there is no feasible way of distinguishing between people who are really looking and want a job and those who aren't/don't.
Do you think it?s right for companies to under pay employees who have been laid off simply because of the current economic state?
I think businesses are trying to make a profit and stay afloat, but that doesn't necessarily make it right. I heard the other day that Price Waterhouse Cooper's executives have taken huge paycuts in order to not lay anyone off (I'm not sure if this is just in the Colorado office because that's where the person was that I heard from) and I think more companies need to consider that. Instead of looking out for themselves, they need to think about the "lower" people who need to survive as well.
I?m sorry that your hubby is still looking for work; that has to be very stressful. My DH was laid off a few years ago, and it was a huge adjustment for us. I hope he finds a job soon. Just my thoughts on your post?
Sure he?s getting leads but there either not worth the pay the paper is written on (to put this in perspective think of a Doctor being asked to serve burgers at a fast food chain ? no offense to anyone in that field) or in Timbuktu. I disagree. If unemployment has run out and I had bills to pay and a family to support, I would do would take a job waitressing or at McDonalds to make ends meet.
It?s a sad state of affairs we people are dealing with all b/c big companies made bad business decisions. I agree that businesses made bad decisions, but I also can?t help to think that some of our nation?s consumerism/greed contributed. From US News and World Report in August of last year: The average American with a credit file is responsible for $16,635 in debt, excluding mortgages, according to Experian, and the personal savings rate has hovered close to zero for the past several years. Obviously this doesn?t apply to everyone or you specifically, but I feel as a nation, we were greedy and didn?t plan for the future.
For those impacted or know of someone who has been impacted, what are you doing to help keep them positive/upward looking? I know my husband told me he hated it when I asked him how it was going b/c if he had some good news, I would be the first to know. Other than that, let him know how much you love and appreciate him.
Do you think it?s right to have a max allotment for unemployment benefits especially when we the taxpayer pay into this benefit? Yes, otherwise, I think the system would be abused by some.
Do you think it?s right for companies to under pay employees who have been laid off simply because of the current economic state? I don?t think that?s it people are being ?underpaid? as much as our entire world has changed. Companies are doing everything they can to keep their business going. If they have a need for talent and another person during these difficult times, they may not have as much $$ to pay as they did two years ago. It?s unfortunate.
For those impacted or know of someone who has been impacted, what are you doing to help keep them positive/upward looking?
There are millions of unemployed people right now so it is clearly not personal. I just keep reminding them of that and also FWDing any and all job opportunities I see.
Do you think it?s right to have a max allotment for unemployment benefits especially when we the taxpayer pay into this benefit?
Yes. If it was just half of what you made until you found a job a lot of people wouldn't go back to work. I can't imagine that that your DH would refuse jobs that pay more than $10,000. Who cares if it was a pay cut? Almost everyone is taking a pay cut these days.
Do you think it?s right for companies to under pay employees who have been laid off simply because of the current economic state?
Yes. They can't afford to pay employees the previously (and often times inflated) salaries. Everyone is having a tough time. Everyone. It's not just you or my BIL or my good girl friend.
I get your frustrations but you make it sound like your DH is not following through on leads because they don't meet his expectations. In this economic climate, one really can't afford to do that.
For those impacted or know of someone who has been impacted, what are you doing to help keep them positive/upward looking?
Both people I know who have lost their jobs are frustrated at the job market but have stayed upbeat by keeping busy with any kind of "meantime" work. They are not too proud to flip burgers, deliver pizzas, etc. They are both creatives and have also ended up finding contract work so that is now the avenue they are pursuing in the short-term (we all used to work together - I quit to be a mom, they lost their jobs a year later and have been out of a FT position for almost a year).
Do you think it?s right to have a max allotment for unemployment benefits especially when we the taxpayer pay into this benefit?
Yes, absolutely. I'm pretty sure that in Texas, employers pay the unemployment taxes - it is not withheld from paychecks like SS, etc. so actually the TX taxpayers have not paid into it.
Do you think it?s right for companies to under pay employees who have been laid off simply because of the current economic state? I don't understand this - if they laid them off, why are they paying them at all? I think I'd rather take a pay cut than have no job at all. If it's the only way to stay afloat right now, I guess I think it's OK to pay their employees less but again, I'm not sure I understand the question.
Oh no! I wasn't trying to imply that at all. He's doing everything he can to find a job. Nothing is beneath him at all. They're is just so many people he is competing with and some of those people happen to have WAY more experience then he does.
I just wanted to say that this is true. Business owners do pay unemployment taxes and often have to pay part of the person's unemployment if they lay them off. My stepdad talked about this a lot when he owned his own business. I don't know about it being withheld from paychecks and things like that but I do know that business owners pay into it.
I know what you mean. ?In addition to the extra competition, a couple of years ago, DH could have asked for (and received) 15-20% more pay as well as a signing bonus and other perks. It's amazing how everything has fallen apart in the past few years.
Hang in there. ?I know it's a rough time, especially with you guys just having your second baby, but thinks will turn around. ?
For those impacted or know of someone who has been impacted, what are you doing to help keep them positive/upward looking? My family is not currently impacted but my about a year ago my husband was without a job for about 5 months. It was tough. I tried to be very supportive and positive when we talked about it. I also got to the point where I didn't ask him about his job search for that day - I knew he would tell me if there were any developments. I tried to keep him busy with different projects around the house and he volunteered a couple of different places.
Do you think it?s right to have a max allotment for unemployment benefits especially when we the taxpayer pay into this benefit? I do this a max allotment is fine. There is only so much money available and the funds will run out at some point. I do think the max alottment should be based on your previous employement (salary and length of service). I was laid off from a job several years ago and could not collect any unemployment because my employer did not pay unemployment taxes.
Do you think it?s right for companies to under pay employees who have been laid off simply because of the current economic state?
hmmm....I think the term "under pay" is a tricky one. Businesses are trying to stay in business and keep some jobs. I think we all think that we are under paid for the job we do. I think it just a downside of the economy right now. There are a lot of people accepting jobs they are very over qualified for - just to have a job.
?
This is true. We have salaried employees who work for us....and we (the company) pays all of the unemployment tax for each employee....it is not deducted from their checks.?
I've been there this last year and I would say in a way I'm still there. ?DH was unemployed for 7 months. ?He has a lot of good experience in his field, but we learned he's going up against much more qualified people because of the high unemployment rates. ?He finally got a job in February, but it pays half of what he was making. ?The only reason why we're making it now is because we got our tax refund and are using that to make up the difference in his lost wages. ?He is NOT happy, but he's better now that he has SOMETHING compared to when he was at home.
I learned to stop asking him about how things were going and wait until he said something to me about it. ?I told him I'd help him in any way he needed, whether it was to look at his resume, brainstorm interview responses, or whatever, but waited for him to ask before I gave him my opinion. ?While he was at home he really helped out a lot with cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry. ?I made sure I let him know how much I appreciated him taking care of me because it did help make the situation less stressful. ?
We knew eventually something would turn up and we each had our turns reminding each other of that. ?There were and still are arguments over his situation and how that has drastically impacted us financially. ?I know that the country has gone through tough times before and things always improve, so I cling to the hope that this cycle will eventually run its course and things will improve.
I don't know if I really answered in a way that was helpful, but I do understand what you're going through. ??
My husband is not unemployed, but he graduated in December and is ready to leave his "job" and start his "career". Unfortunately he is getting responses from companies looking for entry level employees that he doesn't have enough experience. People are taking whatever they can get right now. We are lucky that he brings in some money in the meantime, but honestly it isn't much more than unemployment pays.
To support him I just continue to review his resumes/cover letters for him and let him know that he will eventually find something if he keeps persisting.
I do think there needs to be a limit on unemployment because even with the limit I know some people who are not really looking for work after being laid off. They had some money saved and they decided they would instead go on trips while they have time off then start really looking when they NEED to.
Um, YIKES!!! spending savings when you're out of a job, and living on unemployment would scare me to no end. NOT SMART, IMO
ReJana is right. Employees NEVER pay into the unemployment system, so those are not your tax dollars, FYI.