primitive gets serious about collecting unemployment

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4159381

Oh my.

NRaleighLiberal  (1000+ posts) Fri Oct-03-08 09:37 AM
Original message

Serious question on collecting unemployment...
   
I was laid off by my company at the end of April. I was fortunate in getting a severance package (paid in two lumps - one in May, one next January). Can I file for unemployment now? Does the second lump in January mean I have to wait until then?

We pay into this thing for years and years, then it makes you feel guilty about going for it (many of us were let go, few are filing because they feel that they won't be eligable - it is a real gray area).

Any guidance???

REACTIVATED IN CT  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Fri Oct-03-08 09:44 AM
Response to Original message

1. Go ahead and apply. ALl they can do is deny at this time
   
Laws vary from state to state. I know of layoffs done in CT where "salary continuation" was paid for months and the former employees qualified for unemployment during that time

brer cat  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Oct-03-08 09:45 AM
Response to Original message

2. Call your state's Dept. of Labor and ask.

George65  Donating Member  (208 posts) Fri Oct-03-08 09:45 AM
Response to Original message

3. no big deal
   
Apply, they can't eat you....All they can do is turn you down, it won't hurt.

I dunno about the primitives.

On some things, they're not afraid to ask for--indeed, to DEMAND--something they're not entitled to, and on other things they're afraid, as if someone saying "no" will cause them some sort of indescribable harm.

franksolich has always asked (but not of the taxpayers), anticipating a "no," but asking anyway.....and surprisingly, many times the anticipated "no" turns out to be a surprising "yes."

The primitives are such milquetoasts.

[JohnnyReb]

GAWDDAMMIT !!!!!!!!!! Where do they get the "We paid into this for years" shit. Employee's pay no part of unemployment.

[USA4ME]

NRaleighLiberal

Serious question on collecting unemployment...
  
I was laid off by my company at the end of April. I was fortunate in getting a severance package (paid in two lumps - one in May, one next January). Can I file for unemployment now? Does the second lump in January mean I have to wait until then?

We pay into this thing for years and years, then it makes you feel guilty about going for it (many of us were let go, few are filing because they feel that they won't be eligable - it is a real gray area).

Any guidance???

Guidance??  How about making the effort to find work (plenty to be had in Raleigh if you're willing to get out of bed before noon) instead of making road trips to Florida?

Stinkin' mooch.

.

[franksolich]

GAWDDAMMIT !!!!!!!!!! Where do they get the "We paid into this for years" shit. Employee's pay no part of unemployment.

Well, actually, sir, one can use the argument that since the employer has to pay those unemployment taxes, that leaves less in the kitty to pay employees more, so in that sense the employees have paid.

I have to use this argument all the time; about how employers could pay employees more if employers weren't burdened down with all these payroll taxes and other benefits.  I'm sure just about anybody can be paid 33%+ more, if it weren't for these things.

[JohnnyReb]

GAWDDAMMIT !!!!!!!!!! Where do they get the "We paid into this for years" shit. Employee's pay no part of unemployment.

Well, actually, sir, one can use the argument that since the employer has to pay those unemployment taxes, that leaves less in the kitty to pay employees more, so in that sense the employees have paid.

I have to use this argument all the time; about how employers could pay employees more if employers weren't burdened down with all these payroll taxes and other benefits.  I'm sure just about anybody can be paid 33%+ more, if it weren't for these things.

And that's why I always advocated paying employee's more and then taking out for all that stuff from their check (state and fed unemplyment, workers comp., FULL SS payment, health ins., etc,). Or better yet, write them a check for the FULL amount of a weeks work and then require them to send a check to each government required whatever. Talk about seeing some conservatism rule this country.

[franksolich]

And that's why I always advocated paying employee's more and then taking out for all that stuff from their check (state and fed unemplyment, workers comp., FULL SS payment, health ins., etc,). Or better yet, write them a check for the FULL amount of a weeks work and then require them to send a check to each government required whatever. Talk about seeing some conservatism rule this country.

There was an experiment tried by an industrial company in Massachusetts circa the 1950s (it was in a college textbook, but I don't remember all the details).  This company had serious problems with employees griping about low wages.

So one Friday, in one room, they issued paychecks to employees for the whole entire amount of their wages, no deductions, not even for income taxes or social security, much less for other company benefits.

But the employees after receiving those full paychecks had to walk through a second room, where the proper deductions were taken, and and a new paycheck issued.

The employees stopped griping about low wages and instead wrote more letters to their elected representatives.

This is why I think automatic deduction for income taxes is a bad idea; it gives people the wrong impression about how much they're actually paying, and it's easier to slip in "minor" increases over time.