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Jobless checks to end Dec. 28
San Francisco Examiner ^ | 12/6/02 | Adrienne Sanders

Posted on 12/08/2002 7:27:22 AM PST by I_Love_My_Husband

Jobless checks to end Dec. 28

BY ADRIENNE SANDERS Of The Examiner Staff

Steven Wilcott has sent out hundreds of resumes, checks the want-ads daily, is signed up at a half dozen temp agencies and makes weekly visits to The City's job service office on Franklin Street.

In almost a year of looking, he still hasn't found a job. Wilcott, 43, was laid off in February after seven years of working at a nonprofit.

Now Wilcott, along with thousands of other workers, is getting the equivalent of coal for Christmas: His meager $284 a week unemployment checks will end on Dec. 28 because of Beltway bickering.

Wilcott was part of a federal program that extended unemployment benefits to cushion the blow for people who lost their jobs after Sept. 11. The benefits were set to expire Dec. 28 unless Congress continued the program, which it planned to do, until House and Senate chiefs disagreed on the next deadline.

They ended in a deadlock when Congress adjourned for the year three weeks ago.

"They're leaving a lot of people stranded with this," said Wilcott. "It's not a matter of people not looking for jobs."

As many as 300,000 Californians will see their benefits end, said California Employment Development Department spokeswoman Loree Levy. Levy doesn't know exactly how many San Franciscans will lose benefits, but conservative estimates put it at several thousand.

For Wilcott, it's a serious blow after 10 months of surprisingly fruitless searching. He has a college degree, sparkling references, and is willing to work. But he's found there are too many applicants for too few spots.

At least, he says, his one-bedroom on Nob Hill has rent control.

"I'm in a race against time," he said.

Levy said Congress could pass a retroactive extension of benefits when it reconvenes in January. Doling out the money to the state's unemployed, however, could be a logistical nightmare because it would require re-interviewing all those who may have been eligible for benefits.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: jobless; nonprofit; unemployment
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Hmmm, this guy worked for a nonprofit. It's hard for me to feel sorry for nonprofit workers.
1 posted on 12/08/2002 7:27:22 AM PST by I_Love_My_Husband
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To: I_Love_My_Husband
The 'statistics' show that just after unemployment benefits run out, he will luckily find a job.

Amazing how that works.
2 posted on 12/08/2002 7:34:23 AM PST by LaraCroft
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To: I_Love_My_Husband
Hmmm, this guy worked for a nonprofit. It's hard for me to feel sorry for nonprofit workers.

Kinda' like the line from the "L'il Abner" cartoon from many years ago.
"Nominal fees...that's where the real money is!" (or something to that effect)

In graduate school, I remember overhearing some students talking about how they'd
pocketed a fair chunk of change by putting on a "charity event".
Whenever I hear the term "nonprofit", I think it must have been a term origninated
by dead-pan comedian Steven Wright.
3 posted on 12/08/2002 7:45:47 AM PST by VOA
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To: I_Love_My_Husband
People who lose their benefits should hang the blame where it belongs...
around Hillary's neck.

Hillary acted like a devious and stubborn jerk on the floor of the Senate. See:

CLINTON INEPTITUDE, RAGE, DYSFUNCTION BECOME APPARENT ON SENATE FLOOR

or

See Hillary yell at Nickles. But bring along your earplugs.

If Hillary would have been less partisan, the unemployed might have had an extension of their benefits.
If Hillary had kept her facts straight, the unemployed might have had an extension of their benefits.

4 posted on 12/08/2002 7:51:58 AM PST by syriacus
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To: I_Love_My_Husband
There are things in life that will amaze me 'til I cash in my chips. On is that "job seekers" fail to find jobs. When someone tells me he has sent out hundreds of resumes, been on hundreds of interviews and checks the City Job Exchange day after day, it makes me want to ask what he has applied for, have a look at his resume and a few other questions.

I've been fired or laid off two times since I left the military a little over thirty years ago. Each time I tried to find something in my specialty. I was extreemely particular about what I would accept. However, that luxury had a timetable.

In both cases after that timetable was exhausted, I expanded the horizon in search. The first time I wound up with something, at least, within my "field" even if not exactly what I would have preferred. That one took about six weeks.

The second time occured when I was over fifty years old. That had me worried. I passed a second milestone in time and started looking in other states. If you can no longer make it where you are, maybe it's time to move to where the jobs are. Still looking was more of a full time job than was my previous job effort. Luckily, I found something is a completely separate field in my home. This time the effort took slightly more than three months. However, both my wife and I were fully prepared to move on if that is what it took, even though we have both lived here most of our lives.

I've talked to people in my situation on several occasions. They tell me that often (not always) you should be making more in your new locale than the one you left, and this improvement should take place within about two years.

I tend to lose sympathy for people that tell me they have been looking for work for "X" number of years and there just isn't anything out there. In the worst of recessions there is something out there. It's a law of large numbers and expanding horizons. Otherwise, it's just whining most of the time.

The worst thing congress could have done was to extend jobless benefits. They aren't benefits. They are millstones to hang around one's neck.

5 posted on 12/08/2002 7:53:34 AM PST by stevem
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To: stevem
I believe you hit the point here: The people complaining about not being able to find a job are only looking for jobs they are experienced or have a degree in. I've never been to an area where jobs are not avalible.
6 posted on 12/08/2002 8:12:21 AM PST by anobjectivist
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To: LaraCroft
The 'statistics' show that just after unemployment benefits run out, he will luckily find a job.

I've noticed that with several aquaintances over the years. Its amazing how luck always seems to work that way, isn't it?

7 posted on 12/08/2002 8:33:35 AM PST by templar
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To: anobjectivist
The people complaining about not being able to find a job are only looking for jobs they are experienced or have a degree in.

Of course it does make a little more sense to look for jobs you have experience in or have a degree that qualifies you to do. I'm not looking for a job because I already have two but if I tried to get a job that required some other degree than I have, I'm not sure I'd be hired. Say for example I applied to be a tool and die maker but have never had that apprenticeship or any experience, why would I be hired? Or nurse when I'm not one, and teachers have to be certified with an education major. It's not always that easy to change fields.

8 posted on 12/08/2002 8:33:54 AM PST by FITZ
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To: I_Love_My_Husband
Couldn't agree more. I heard a DC-area DJ take a call from a man who moaned "I can't find a job and I'm gonna starve" to which the DJ responded: leave your apt and turn left or right, it doesn't matter which direction. Start walking. Within two blocks you'll reach a fast food place. The little sign in the window will say HELP WANTED. Go in and take the job, which will probly include meals. Is this the job/career you want? Definitely not. But doing 40 hrs a week there will keep you fed and pay for the rent-controlled apt, leaving you with lots more hours each week to job-search. 'Course you'll have to work instead of sitting home waiting for the mailman, but that shouldn't bother you...
9 posted on 12/08/2002 8:39:09 AM PST by silverdog
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To: silverdog
True: if he really wanted to work, he could take two jobs for awhile until he finds the one he wants. It might not be what he wants, but it will keep him going until he finds something else. Anything to keep going. My husband and I have both done it - as many have and DO every day. We both hated it - but our family was fed and the bills got paid.
10 posted on 12/08/2002 8:47:12 AM PST by sneakers
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To: FITZ
It's not always that easy to change fields.

Argue in favor of your limitations and they are yours untill you die.

11 posted on 12/08/2002 8:48:12 AM PST by templar
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To: LaraCroft
The 'statistics' show that just after unemployment benefits run out, he will luckily find a job.

Amazing how that works.

Yea? It works? The job he will find will be one for something just over the $284 per week he was getting on unemployment. Do you count that as a job? I count it as still looking. No one that was making decent salary would consider having to work at McDonalds for just over minimum being employed.

Any saving most people have will surely be wiped out after a year.

12 posted on 12/08/2002 9:01:49 AM PST by BJungNan
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To: I_Love_My_Husband
In my youth, I worked so many "in-between" jobs - dishwasher, floor waxer, window cleaner, limo driver, bartender, cook, waiter, factory floor sweeper, stockroom, etc. etc. etc.

Some of those jobs I worked at even AFTER I got my MBA.
13 posted on 12/08/2002 9:06:36 AM PST by lds23
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To: LaraCroft
.








Your statistics are incorrect.

There are quite afew misconceptions about unemployment benefits. I suggest you study them before referring to an inaccuracy.

"Unemployment Benefits" are by by an employer into a special fund that is earmarked for unemployment use. They are a "hidden tax" that are not indicated on an employees paystub. This fund is supposed to be used only in the case of an unemployed worker. But, states funnel money out if it all the time.

"Unemployment benefits" are monies withheld from employees salaries by the company that employs them.

They are usually a hidden deduction and are not indicated on an employees paycheck.

The monies go into a State "slush fund".

The fund is only supposed to be for the unemployed workers who put into the fund.

The fund is accessed all the time by polititions.

The amount of money provided to the unemployed worker is determined by his salary and by An estimate of how long an unemployed worker would take to find a new position..

A rule of thumb for most states is 6 months.

When 911 occurred, it was feared that the resulting recession would add an additional period of time to the job search period.

Economists feared that an additional 12 months would be realistic. They cited that during the recession of '82 30 months of unemployment benefits was considered a minimum amount.

Bush, using his clout argued for 9 additional months.

Dashole stalled the bill, but permitted an immediate three (3) months, retroactive, as it only took them from september'01 to May '02 to decide and stall. He them left a provision for further negotation.

So many who lost their jobs as a result of the post 911 recession has had their unemployment funds run out and are currently without work.

I am one such person.

The profile of these people are that the majority of them are (75%) are college educated. White. And between the ages of 35 and 45.

This recession is a career stopper for many white collar professionals. Imagine being at the peak of your career and then not being able to work in it for a year!. Boom! Career DOA!

The hardest hit areas are the technology belts in Massachusetts and Texas.

The unemployment figures are illusionary as most of those whom lost their jobs failed to find new ones.

The worst hit fields and careers during this recession have been Engineering, IT, Electronic manufacturing, R&D, Software Development, Aerospace, and Mechanical Production.

Those who lost their jobs before March 2002 are now still unemployed without benefits.

The unemployment benefits are monies eared by the worker and withhed from his base salary. These are monies that he earned.

Unemployment benefits are not and should not be treated as if they were from the general welfare fund. That is incorrect and illusionary.

These are the facts, not obvious to unenformed writers and reporters on either side of the issue.

Politically, given the baseline voting records of the unemployed workers during this period, it would be substantially damaging to the Bush Administration if he were not to do anything. The worker clasee are educated, white, middle class, males for the most part. - the primary voting staple of the Republican party.

Perhaps it was the disenfranchising of this voting block which negatively affected the Lousiana election results.







.

14 posted on 12/08/2002 9:11:15 AM PST by vannrox
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To: silverdog
Stop it!!!! You're making way too much sense!!!

I fondly remember my first 'real' job. I worked as a busboy and dishwasher for a Montgomery Wards coffee shop, making the princely wage of $2/hour, when the minimum wage was $1.65. It was a great job, and as a teenager, I really enjoyed the free meal with each shift.

Before that, I made money working as a scorekeeper at a bowling alley...boy, does that make me look really old! LOL, but I could make upwards of $50 a weekend at certain tournaments, and that wasn't bad money in the late 60's.

I also learned other important life skills, such as making my own transportation arrangements (no, my parents never bought me a car), and the importance of getting my job done by a set time. Opening and maintaining a checking account was another important skill.

If this guy has any skills, he should try applying at temp agencies. The wages may not be the greatest, but you get your foot in the door. We all know people that got jobs at their present companies after being a temporary employee.

BTW, my daughter turns 16 next year. She's going to learn the same lessons that Dear Old Dad learned. The first one is that the 'goodies' are going to come out of her paycheck, instead of mine!

15 posted on 12/08/2002 9:17:13 AM PST by Night Hides Not
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To: templar
your limitations

Those aren't MY limitations ---I could do any of those jobs I mentioned but most employers would want to see proof of an apprenticeship or degree or certification. And yes I could get those but not immediately obviously. There's a lot of other jobs I could do at least reasonably well ---like accountant but I'm not a CPA nor have that degree so I doubt I'd be hired. I know when I'm hiring people, I look that they have the required degree and appropriate experience for the job they'd be doing.

16 posted on 12/08/2002 9:22:36 AM PST by FITZ
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To: BJungNan
Don't even try with these jerks. I wouldn't wish for them to have to lose their jobs and find out the cold facts first hand. Don't worry it's a wave and it's heading your way.

If you think your job is safe you are a fool. Good luck big mouths.

17 posted on 12/08/2002 9:27:14 AM PST by Afronaut
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To: vannrox
There is no guarantee of a job, and it doesn't matter what you think your skills are.. you still need to adapt yourself to find the work that is available or start something yourself.

As an employer, your information on where unemployment money comes from is in error. Employees pay a percentage monthly, and employers do also... while you are employed. I can tell you that if you have been unemployed since 9-11, you have long since taken out all the moneys you have personally contributed and it is now other peoples money.

I know what it is like to be unemployed, and I also know what it is like to take work below you, but I would do whatever necessary to feed my family.... whether it was below me or not.

Plus, the world changes. People that were employed in a lot of fields 100 years ago found their jobs eliminated.... that will continue to happen. You have to adapt and change.

So you lost your job due to 9-11? Instead of complaining about the taxpayers needed to give you more money, rejoice that you are alive and that you live in a Country of unlimited prosperity. Dwell upon your blessings, for many many others are not as fortunate as you are.... having a computer and internet service is a luxury that the majority of the world does not enjoy.
18 posted on 12/08/2002 9:29:42 AM PST by LaraCroft
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To: Afronaut
If you think your job is safe you are a fool.

That kind of sums it up I think. I have two jobs and I think they're both safe but I look around and see people who've never been laid off in over 20 years getting laid off right and left, people who always worked, who never were unemployed, in jobs that used to be safe. I'm back in school of course and have been because I've seen this coming for a few years now. The economy we've been headed into has no base, no one can say what drives it. Before people could say it was the automobile industry or high tech. All that's gone.

19 posted on 12/08/2002 9:38:46 AM PST by FITZ
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To: LaraCroft
.





Your points are taken. But they are old news.

FYI. Personally, I no longer Manage Engineers and an R&D group. I just can't do it anymore. Period. Forget the career... It's OVER. This last layoff was the 15th in over 20 years of my Career. I want you to know that I have survived and that I am doing ok.

But please be advised, that change is not always simple, easy, and without effect. Know too, that the GOVERNMENT has no business what so ever in the establishment of unemployment benefits. But they do. Thank Sen. Kennedy for that. Why? Try to be an Independent Cntractor or self-employed with an Engineering Degree. You can't -(unless it is civil engineering...) It is against the LAW! Try establishing a Subchapter "S" or "C" as an Engineer. You can't - It's against the LAW! Try working on your own and contracting and then funnelling your 1099 through a Trust...Ask the IRS if you are allowed to do so...NO? You can't - It's against the law.

I know that the media and many who do not work in the technology fields have absolutely no concept of what I am discussing here. But it is the truth and that's just simply the way it is. If I would of known then (in College after my third (3rd!!!!) degree, what I know now... I would of never... NEVER.... NEVER of become an Engineer.

But like I said earlier. I am doing ok now. I have a roof over my head. I went through bankrupsy and so I no longer have to worry about junk-mail credit card applications. My house is gone and so I don't have to worry about a morgage. My car is paid off, but my wife left me. So I don't have to worry about her problems. My belongings are in storage. As long as I make the payments, my material wealth will stay intact.

I now paint for a living. It doesn't pay as much. But it is far more enjoyable. Plus, I no longer have to adbide by the "corporate fad-of-the-month", like Tqm, or Black-Belt, or 5S (Steriel Desk Policies), or Peer Reviews, or Staff Meetings, or Reorgs...

When I work, I make more money and I have less hassles than I ever did before.







.

20 posted on 12/08/2002 9:47:04 AM PST by vannrox
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