"unemployment" is currently 79 wks in Michigan

[feh]

I am getting $525 a week from UI + free health insurance. Why would I give that up and go work someplace for $10/hr, probably on an odd shift nobody else wants to work when I was making 20/hr prior?

Because that would be the responsible thing to do?

I'm quite liberal; I believe in social programs like unemployment benefits. But I must admit, it riles me when I hear about people treating unemployment like a vacation. Or not taking a job because it doesn't pay what their previous job did. I view that kind of behavior as gaming the system.

PS - I shouldn't refer to UI as a "social program", as it isn't (usually) a government program. However, we do all pay for it, indirectly (and the extended benefits, I believe, are coming straight out of the stimulus money).

[illinigamer]

I find that most of the people complaining about UI are people with jobs. Why? You're not paying for it.

Who exactly do you think is paying for it then?

[cicy33]

Who exactly do you think is paying for it then?

This is actually paid by the employers. It is called state unemployment tax and does not come out of the employees pay check.

[cicy33]

Because that would be the responsible thing to do?

I'm quite liberal; I believe in social programs like unemployment benefits. But I must admit, it riles me when I hear about people treating unemployment like a vacation. Or not taking a job because it doesn't pay what their previous job did. I view that kind of behavior as gaming the system.

Why do you feel that it is gaming the system because I want to find a job that at least pays close to what I had? Why should I take a $7 an hour pay cut because I lost my job? I think it is great that they allow me to look for the job I want versus a job that will almost allow me to scrape by and that I hate. I have the experience and training and really don't want to work min wage every again. A number of years ago I worked for BCBS. When I applied there it took over 6 weeks from date of application to date of offered employment. Companies that pay well with benefits seem to take the longest to process resumes. So, yes, I need some time to find the job I want.

[disneysteve]

This is actually paid by the employers. It is called state unemployment tax and does not come out of the employees pay check.

Even if it doesn't come directly out of your check, you are still paying for it. If your employer didn't have to pay that tax, he would be able to pass that savings on to employees in the form of higher pay. Or they'd be able to set the prices lower for their goods and services as a result of lower overhead. So we all pay for unemployment in one way or another.

[sofocused978]

This is actually paid by the employers. It is called state unemployment tax and does not come out of the employees pay check.

I love the people who actually think their tax dollars are paying for UI benefits and piss and moan like we are freeloading off them. Get a clue.

[feh]

Why do you feel that it is gaming the system because I want to find a job that at least pays close to what I had? Why should I take a $7 an hour pay cut because I lost my job?

You may not find a job that pays what your old one did. It clearly depends on your field and local job market; most of the auto workers that have been laid off will likely not make close to what they were before.

I think it is great that they allow me to look for the job I want versus a job that will almost allow me to scrape by and that I hate. I have the experience and training and really don't want to work min wage every again. A number of years ago I worked for BCBS. When I applied there it took over 6 weeks from date of application to date of offered employment. Companies that pay well with benefits seem to take the longest to process resumes. So, yes, I need some time to find the job I want.

I wasn't referring to the amount of time it takes from interview to hire date.

[cicy33]

Even if it doesn't come directly out of your check, you are still paying for it. If your employer didn't have to pay that tax, he would be able to pass that savings on to employees in the form of higher pay. Or they'd be able to set the prices lower for their goods and services as a result of lower overhead. So we all pay for unemployment in one way or another.

While this is true, it is an unavoidable tax (as I am sure you know) My point was simply to show that it is not directly paid from employees paychecks. Of course to follow this analogy, we pay for everything. Min wage went up, so did food, gas and everything else. definitely getting to be an expensive world.

[cicy33]

You may not find a job that pays what your old one did. It clearly depends on your field and local job market; most of the auto workers that have been laid off will likely not make close to what they were before.


I wasn't referring to the amount of time it takes from interview to hire date.

Actually I am aware of that. I am looking for about anything around $12 and up. If it doesn't work out soon may have to go to $10. But it would be nice to be close to where I was. I also am sort of "requiring" benefits. I am getting older and need them. The good thing about that is most higher end jobs do offer benefits.

[cicy33]

I wasn't referring to the amount of time it takes from interview to hire date.

But this is a crucial issue. If it wasn't for this time frame many people would be able to find jobs that they are qualified for in a more suitable time frame. UI offers that time frame. without it many people would have to pass up the offer and go to work where they hate it and for less money. I am looking for a job that will last a long time. I am really good at what I do and feel like I should be able to stay in my field and get paid for it. I did my years at mcdonalds and all that and I did not go to college to go back to it after the age of 40. Granted there is nothing wrong with fast food but I want more.

[sofocused978]

People should be more concerned about health insurance companies driving their employers out of the market and threatening their jobs than some 1%(probably less) unavoidable state business tax.

With all the uprising though it seems like they want more of that than reform.

[feh]

I love the people who actually think their tax dollars are paying for UI benefits and piss and moan like we are freeloading off them. Get a clue.

Go down to the "Bigger and longer unemployment benefits" section of the link below. Some portions of unemployment are coming directly from tax payers:

How the Stimulus Helps Laid-Off Workers - Kiplinger.com

[feh]

But this is a crucial issue. If it wasn't for this time frame many people would be able to find jobs that they are qualified for in a more suitable time frame. UI offers that time frame.

There's no reason a lower paying job couldn't be an "interim" job. Taking such a job doesn't preclude anybody from continuing to search for a more preferable job.

[disneysteve]

Because that would be the responsible thing to do?

I'm no fan of people gaming the system, but let's be realistic here.

If you lose a job where you earned $20/hour and go on unemployment which pays $13.13/hour ($525/week based on 40 hours), you aren't going to accept a job paying only $10/hour. At least most reasonable people wouldn't. I sure wouldn't. Now I would take a job that paid at least what unemployment was paying me even if it was less than I had earned at my previous job.

[illinigamer]

I love the people who actually think their tax dollars are paying for UI benefits and piss and moan like we are freeloading off them. Get a clue.

The money has to come from somewhere. Whether this is a tax on the individual, the business that employs them or the goverment going into debt to be payed by future generations is irrelevant. Indirectly or not, UI benefits are payed for by those who are employed.