Jobs

Here's an article from April, talking about jobs. While Joe Biden says the administration "Misread" the economy, unemployment has gone up to 9.5%. Jobs aren't being lost in as great numbers, but not too many companies are hiring. More families are becoming homeless. The outlook is grim and people keep talking about the Depression.

I find that depressing; in my area, hourly rates for temporary attorneys have gone down. While there were a few corporations that paid $3 less an hour a few years ago, a couple of the agencies are going to the lower rates. Because I'm not actively seeking temporary attorney projects, I don't know if that's a reflection of firms lowering their rates generally or the agency thinking they'll have an edge.

Unemployment Benefits

There has been a rise in the number of applications challenged for unemployment benefits. Makes sense; companies don't want to pay more than they have to and with more people being let go, there are more claims, which reflects badly on the corporation.

I've had unemployment claims challenged before, and have been told that in my state it's very difficult to have the benefits taken away. Companies with high turnover, due to their deficiencies are more likely to try this, even in good times. I haven't had benefits withheld from me and only know one person who has. I'm not sure what happened in that case, as my information was obtained third hand.

Usually it has to be something egregious; mere incompetence or not meeting standards doesn't rise to the level of misbehavior needed. Someone whose family owned a business once told me that she didn't think you'd lose unemployment benefits even if you killed someone. Then again, thinking it through, how would you prove you were looking for a job? Does unemployment take calls from prison? Are you still able to turn down a job, while imprisoned, because it pays less than your last employment?

The change in my state is that when doing contract work, you must contact the agency within five days of the projects end to ask if they have another project. The presumption in the system is that you quit the job but the agency that employed me when I was cut from a project denies that you quit and then pays. Backwards system.

Economic Hardship Deferments

I seriously considered applying for an economic hardship deferment for my gigantic student loan, since I'm not working right now and all. That would make it much easier. What stops me is that I'll only end up increasing my monthly minimum and I don't want to do that. I should be able to pay the amount required right now based on my unemployment payments.



I finally received the letter indicating that I qualify to receive unemployment if I jump through the remainder of their hoops; applying for jobs, blah, blah, blah. I have to take a couple of their little classes and have fulfilled other requirements. Their webpage is only available from 6 am to 6 pm Monday-Friday so I have to wait until Monday to look at the schedule and find out when the classes are and if I can just go or if there's a need to sign up.



I have already begun networking as well as having signed up on the state job bank page. I didn't really sign up, just updated my account. I have also signed up to receive other job postings via e-mail so it's really just the classes. One is a creative job search class, which I don't think will have anything new for me to learn; the other is an interviewing skills workshop, which may prove helpful. I'm introverted so don't think I interview the best.

Unemployment

One interesting thing I learned about unemployment in my state is that when you report employment, you must also report any volunteer work you've done. I'm not sure what that's in aid of; nor can you get unemployment if you work more than 32 hours in a week, even if what you earn would be less than your unemployment payment.

The only thing I can think of is that if you volunteer too much it gets in the way of actually looking for a job? Because if you're volunteering full time or nearly full time, you're not likely to be spending a lot of time on your job search. On the other hand, you could be gaining valuable skills.

Another thing I don't understand is why the administrator of my Federal loans states on their economic hardship deferment form that you must be looking for any job anywhere. Which makes no sense whatsoever; if I'm unemployed, I'm not going to have the wherewithal to move to another city or the ability to prove income to rent an apartment. If I apply for any job, I'll be overqualified for many, unlicensed in 49 states and the District of Columbia, and many of those jobs won't pay sufficient for me to finance food, clothing and shelter along with the care and feeding of my student loans.

Their requirement is more strict than that of unemployment, which requires you to look for work in your field, within a reasonable distance of your home, that pays no less than your last job. That's a completely different requirement.

Unemployment

A couple of temporary attorneys have told me they don't apply for unemployment when they're not working; they're afraid the agencies won't try to find them work if they do so.

I'm not sure what to think of that idea but it doesn't seem reasonable; absent a project, I need to pay my bills.

I can't imagine that an agency would deny unemployment; people talk, nobody would want to work for them. Once a contractor applies for unemployment, it's in the agency's best interest to find that person a project. I know at least one person who was tipped off about a project by an agency that had no work for her at the time. It's a win-win situation; contractor gets work, agency doesn't have to deal with unemployment for that person.

Unemployment might not be the worst thing in the world; Your boss can make you sick.

No Projects

Currently there are no projects in my city that are available to me. Last year one of my friends went to DC and worked for the summer. His project had a lot of OT so he did nothing but work and sleep. He came back when there was a long-term project here, where he's still working, though that project cut back on the number of attorneys.

I'm not sure if I'm better off staying home, applying for jobs, collecting unemployment and looking for a project or if I should take myself to a bigger city for the short-term.