Trying to hire and they are all "Drawing"

[Gale Hawkins]

KY pays very well unlike years ago. With hunting season, the holidays drawing UI is like a paid vacation.

They do not have to look for "A" job but they have to look for a job like they lost as I understand it.

It makes no sense for the under motivated to work as long at UI extensions will last a few more years or at least for 13 more months.

 

[CurlyDave]

In Northern CA, I have seen two jobs advertised for weeks and they apparently not filled.

One is rather low-level, a nearby Pizza parlor has an opening advertised in their window, and it has not been filled.

The other just leaves me scratching my head. A local quarry has an opening for a heavy equipment operator. Sign has been up for a few weeks.

This recession I keep hearing about must not be as bad as they say.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Why would any one WANT to work when you say sit on you back side and watch Oprah all day long, go to Vegas, cruises, and on and on - even Hawaii.

Think about it, the Gubment give people nearly $400.00 a week, free food stamps, free medical, free cell phones with minutes - what employer can compete with that.

Thousands of documents show tens of millions of welfare dollars have been spent out of state, some at vacation resorts. The discovery is leading to new legislation to prevent welfare abuse.

A Los Angeles Times analysis found $69 million was spent outside state lines during a three and a half year period beginning in January 2007 at tourist destinations like Las Vegas, Hawaiian beaches and cruise ships in Florida. Critics call that "taxpayer-funded vacations" at a time when taxpayers can't afford one themselves.

"These are for folks that are hurting, that are out of job, and you see that money is spent on a cruise, then obviously, it's fraudulent," says Gaines.

Benefits are deposited electronically onto welfare cards that are used like a debit card in stores or to withdraw cash at certain ATMs.

The Times analysis found nearly $12 million was spent in Las Vegas, $1.5 million in Florida, $387,908 in Hawaii, and $16,010 withdrawn from ATMs on cruise ships.

"When people go on assistance, they're going to have the same kind of life situations come up as anyone else. You're going to visit your sick relative. You're going to go to funerals out-of-state. That's what's going on here," says Mike Herald from the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Another problem is when welfare recipients don't use certain ATMs, taxpayers pick up those extra fees. Last year, the state paid more than $11 million in ATM surcharges, and we'll likely surpass that this year because bank fees have gone up.

So why work when can go on a cruise or Vegas on the government?

 

[ultrarunner]

I believe in California it is up to $450 a week... so better than $11 an hour without having to leave home.

It is actually a deterrent since I know folks that have been laid-off more than a year ago and repeatedly turn down jobs paying between $10 and $12 an hour.

For some, they had 50k jobs and that is all they will settle for...

For others the jobs are temporary without a certainty... CAT DRIVER is right... just about have to pay $20 and hour or double to even get replies... at least here in California.

 

[Reverend Blair]

People travel for different reasons. Some are looking for work, some are going to funerals, some are accompanying friends or relatives for a variety of reasons. I'm not saying that there isn't abuse of the system, but simply listing off money spent out of state is simplistic and ultimately misleading.

I know when I was laid off, I travelled to the adjacent provinces looking for temporary work. Were they able to track my spending at that time, they would have found that I ate in restaurants and stayed in hotels. I also never found work. Doesn't mean I wasn't on vacation though.

 

[ultrarunner]

People travel for different reasons. Some are looking for work, some are going to funerals, some are accompanying friends or relatives for a variety of reasons. I'm not saying that there isn't abuse of the system, but simply listing off money spent out of state is simplistic and ultimately misleading.

I know when I was laid off, I travelled to the adjacent provinces looking for temporary work. Were they able to track my spending at that time, they would have found that I ate in restaurants and stayed in hotels. I also never found work. Doesn't mean I wasn't on vacation though.

True enough... just don't know how a cruise ship would fit into that scenario?

 

[jinjimbob]

You can't live on $11 a hour, it won't give you any health coverage.

Getting $11 unemploment, you don't pay SS/medicare, plus you might get health care.

If there was national health care (not insurance) the country would be in a better place. The medicare people know what things cost, and don't over pay the overpaid health workers.

 

[Pops15]

I have never drawed or paid a employee UI my entire life. I was under the assumption that the employer pays all the premiums into a state fund and if a employee starts to draw, the employer is responsible for part of the payment. Someone correct me if I am wrong? Ken Sweet

It may be different where you are but here the employer pays the state based on the wages each employee earn. If you never lay anyone off you pay the state a low rate. If you have to lay someone off, even briefly, your rates go up. I don't remember the percentages but employers that hire seasonal workers, like in the construction industry, can pay substantially higher rates. Once an employer has a claim against him it takes a long time with no one claiming against you to get your rates reduced. Several years ago the state changed the criteria on earnings that determine which employer had a claim against him. That change basically was a deterrent to an employer hiring someone for a short period of time as doing so would cause the employer's UI (tax) rate to increase.

Back in the day just about anyone was eligible for 13 weeks of benefits. Unemployed could get a 13 week extension if they showed they were actively looking for work or had a definite call back date. After that, they could apply for an extension. At some point the feds get involved and some people can draw another 26 weeks. I don't know what the rules are now, but I doubt they are any more favorable for the employer.

 

[soulasphil]

Very sorry to read of your difficulties. You seem to be in the same mess as we have been for some time in Europe. I'm retired now, but 10 years ago I tried to recruit people on permanent government jobs. It turned out the maximum salary I could offer was clearly under what people got as unemployment benefits. I couldn't hire anyone until I found a way of letting them have a supplement from the county on top of their salaries. The taxpayer's pockets have to be very very deep !

 

[yushanhou]

We have been trying to hire another employee to work in the shop at our shipping facility and everyone we have approached so far, is Drawing a gumment check of some sort and can't work at a public job. They say it will mess up their check. Really a sad situation. Ken Sweet

anyone who has hands must
work