[hal ogen]

As heartless and mean-spirited as it might sound, there are a significant number of people who look at a layoff and unemployment as a vacation opportunity. They feel no compulsion but to wait it out, rather than being flexible and looking for work. Hey...50% income and no work is such a deal. Maybe I have to drink cheaper beer, but hey.

[A_perfect_lady]

Yep. I have a very dear friend who worked like a trojan for 20 years and would sneer at people who were on unemployment. Then she got laid off. For the first month she was frantic to find another job... then she got her first unemployment check and realized, “Hey, this covers my bills.” Instant transformation. She pretty much lazed around for 9 months. She’d say “I’m not taking a job where I have to commute and lose my unemployment! I’m not taking a job that looks boring and lose my unemployment!” I mean, her attitude changed completely. Guarding that check became top priority.

[Just mythoughts]

The ‘intellectual’ class has this all figured out. The only way to undo ‘welfare’ reform of the 90’s is the destruction of job creation. Just wait until these lying thieves let the Bush tax cuts whither on the vine...

This is all about the complete destruction of the middle class.

[freespirited]

As heartless and mean-spirited as it might sound, there are a significant number of people who look at a layoff and unemployment as a vacation opportunity

I have to second the observation. I think this is particularly true now that so many households have two incomes. In some (though not all), people can afford to have one of them temporarily replaced by unemployment compensation instead of a full salary. All that is lost is some level of luxury, not the necessities.