Georgia employers face rising unemployment insurance taxes
Georgia employers are almost certainly going to pay higher unemployment insurance taxes next year and jobless workers may see a cut in benefits.
Mark Butler
That’s because the state owes $721 million to the federal government — money it borrowed to pay its share of unemployment benefits. Only the first interest payment — $22 million due next month — has been accounted for.
I sat down with state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler to see how he plans to repay the principal and make future interest payments. Butler has assembled a task force in his department to come up with a long-term game plan. The task force, which has been meeting since May, plans to offer its recommendations to Butler later this month. After he decides on a course of action, the ball will be passed to the governor and state Legislature, which will have to act when it convenes in January.
But before we get into what the task force is considering, here’s a little background.
Georgia, like most other states, started borrowing during the Great Recession so it could continue to pay benefits to laid-off workers. We’re not talking about extended federal benefits here, which give some jobless workers as many as 73 weeks of additional coverage after the state’s payments are exhausted. We’re talking about the state’s responsibility, which is the first 26 weeks of benefits.
To cover those 26 weeks, Georgia employers pay unemployment insurance taxes into a special fund. Annual payments average $187 per employee. But, with our abnormally high unemployment rate, the fund started running out of money in December 2009. That’s when the first borrowing occurred, and the tab is now $721,080,472.
To repay the money, the task force has been considering many options. Not all will be recommended, but more than one option will be needed to cover the debt. Ideas include:
– Raising employer taxes, which Butler said he will try to limit as much as possible so job creation is not stifled. Companies pay two unemployment insurance taxes. Because of the outstanding loan, the federal portion of the tax will rise next year by $21 per employee, officials said. The state’s portion of the tax, which increased 35 percent this year, could rise again. Butler already is empowered to increase the tax rate by another 15 percent, but he’s leaning against doing that.
– Cutting weekly jobless benefits, which average $260 now.
– Reducing the number of weeks — now 26 — that state benefits are paid.
– Revamping the current system. For example, employers only pay taxes on a worker’s first $8,500 of annual income. That could be raised under one proposal being considered.
– Borrowing money to repay the entire loan. But there are legal complications, including the likelihood that a constitutional amendment would be required to do that.
There is a sliver of good news amid these depressing options. For the past three months, the state has not needed to borrow more money, largely because initial claims have declined.
“We should have enough money to pay unemployment benefits [without borrowing] for the rest of the year,” Butler said.
Here’s hoping he’s right.
- Henry Unger, The Biz Beat
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75 comments Add your comment
James
August 9th, 2011
6:36 am
Hope and Change for America?
bagger
August 9th, 2011
6:45 am
cut off the parasites, let them eat cake
crystalmille
August 9th, 2011
7:08 am
Common guys the universities are not for everyone these days, it is very costly just accept, only alternative now is something called “High Speed Univ” where you pay much much less but get degree faster
JustMyOpinion
August 9th, 2011
7:17 am
Everyone who receives these benefits does not want to receive a handout, it’s just sad that they are reduced to $260 per week.
The key is employment
August 9th, 2011
7:26 am
People who had been working, working their whole lives, lost their jobs in this recession, they’ve chewed through their savings in an effort to keep their homes and feed their families.
Now, Mark Butler wants to cut their puny $260 per week benefit. What a load of …!
http://www.dol.state.ga.us/contact_commissioner.htm
P.S. Does he really have to look so smug in his photo?
Semi-Retired
August 9th, 2011
7:40 am
I’m collecting a whopping $330 a week!
Tim
August 9th, 2011
7:40 am
Henry, you didn’t go far enough back in your background. If you look back to 2006 or so, you will see that we had a surplus of funds in the unemployment fund. The legislature decided back then that there was too much surplus – there would be no rainy day to have to save up for. So they cut the unemployment insurance fee charged to business, and by the time the recession hit, there was a very small surplus. Lack of planning caused a lot of the debt owed – had the unemployment insurance rate stayed the same, Georgia would have weathered, or almost weathered, the recession.
Tom E. Gunn
August 9th, 2011
7:52 am
Also, the state is VERY liberal in allowing people to collect. I have saw first hand people dismissed for excessive absence, bad job preformance, etc. go down and be awarded compensation.
Laurie
August 9th, 2011
7:52 am
Increase the UI tax on companies that outsourced or relocated facilities to other areas (Mexico, Canada, or India for example). They obviously contributed to the problem to gain more profit, so let them pay a greater share of the burden.
Karl Marx
August 9th, 2011
8:03 am
I agree with “bagger” Cut off the parisites, Bank of America, Fanny & Freddy, Wells Fargo, Wall Street, AIG GM, GE, and The Federal Goverment is a good start.
Bobby
August 9th, 2011
8:04 am
So, Mark Butler, a Republican Labor Commissioner is considering raising taxes on employers. Interesting that while the Tea Party holds the nation hostage, on the State level Republicans raising fees, taxes, reinstituting Georgia 400 tolls that should have expired based on earlier promises when the Ga 400 Tollway was constructed, and Georgia Power rates for customers ever which way they can. Republicans are willing to take away benefits for the middle class at the Federal level and raise taxes on the middle class at the State level.
Working gal
August 9th, 2011
8:07 am
I have worked at my company for 15 years. If I get laid off and it takes me months to find a job. You can be sure that I want those benefits available to me. Raise the employers tax. Maybe I won’t get that 1% percent raise next year. So what at least I can pay my mortgage and bills. Maybe the lenght of collection can be tied to how long you have been gainfully employed.
RapidEvictor
August 9th, 2011
8:10 am
It’s $330 without withholding taxes removed, it’s considered income, the first $2400 isn’t taxed, it’s $260 if you opt to have taxes taken out before it’s gets to you. If you opt to not have taxes taken out you will wind up paying them when you file next year. Some people are smart enough to prepare for this others will be shocked when they see they aren’t getting a refund (it’s better to owe them, not them owe you!) but owe a hefty amount to the IRS. No one is living high on the hog on $260 a week, for most it isn’t even enough to keep them afloat.
carlosgvv
August 9th, 2011
8:30 am
Now Corporations have even more excuses for not hiring and instead, piling more work on their existing employees.
AR
August 9th, 2011
8:35 am
This economy has effected everybody but the RICH!!!! When will this country stop blaming the Democratic or Republicans? This issues involves choices far beyond the people of this country. I say fire everyone of these politicians and just have a liberal government. Only the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Just snatch everything from us and be done. Bump this back and forth. Thank you POLITICIANS for you big screw-up. Now blame us!!!!!!!!
WAW
August 9th, 2011
8:37 am
My guess is that most of you people wise-a$$ing about “cut ‘em off” are on the government dole yourself. Most Tea Party people I know are “on the take” from the government on way or the other. Retired military and teachers top the most vocal I know. Your day may not be far away.
Buzz G
August 9th, 2011
8:37 am
We have to do what we can to keep those snouts at the trough. Its a matter of fairness.
destin dawg
August 9th, 2011
8:41 am
Bernie Marcus and Ken Langone started Home Depot here in Atlanta in the 70’s… and other businesses… created thousands of jobs… paid Huge taxes.. eventually have given million$ to charity.. hospitals.. etc.. they say they couldn’t start Home Depot now with all the regulations and taxes… also said Obama will go down in history as the worst President of all time !!
Fannie
August 9th, 2011
8:47 am
By all accounts, unemployment compensation from the State and the Federal governments has been more than generous. Like all things, though, it cannot continue indefinitely. I will not call those that receive them “parasites”, but we should not declare that these people are now unemployable and should receive benefits… which are equivalent to minimum wage…indefinitely.
destin dawg
August 9th, 2011
8:53 am
unemployed should be required to do community service/work to get benefits…
EX DOL Wlorker
August 9th, 2011
8:56 am
The u/i system is a scam. When folks find out they can get 99 weeks of benefits they quit looking. They work under the table and get benefits, they work a job and continue to call in for benefits and most never get caught, They lie,lie and tell more lies to appeal officers so even after quitting or being fired they get benefits. The entire system is an extension of the welfare program. I am not talking isolated incidents here, get the DOL workers in the backroom and they will tell you story after story. The way to pay back the system is to recover the money from the cheaters but there is little will to do that. Prosecutors never prosecute any of these folks. One of the reasons I left is because my conscience wouldn’t allow me to con tinue. People would have a million excuses not to take a job. The entire system has a cancer that needs to be cut out-fraud,waste and abuse to the ‘umth degree!
Clancey
August 9th, 2011
9:00 am
“There is a sliver of good news amid these depressing options. For the past three months, the state has not needed to borrow more money, largely because initial claims have declined.”
What is “good” about people being denied unemployment? Also, gotta remember that those people aren’t counted in the unemployed, since they aren’t on the rolls.
Makes things look good for the State and Feds, doesn’t it!
RY
August 9th, 2011
9:02 am
I know this is “The Biz Beat” Henry, but considering the great state of Georgia has yet to decide on a solution to this problem, couldn’t the title of your column just as likely be “Georgia’s Unemployed Face Cut in Benefits?” If the General Assembly’s track record in recent years has taught us anything, it’s that balancing the state budget on the backs of the middle class and working poor is almost always their first option!
reality
August 9th, 2011
9:04 am
The government just doesn’t get it…we need companies hiring and we need it now!!!…all the public keeps hearing about is cutting more off or helping people who are already employed(Obama’s plan to take less taxes out of paychecks). Corporations are motivated by $$$!!! Most are sitting on huge cash reserves..incentives to have companies pay less in taxes need to be given based on hiring…in turn our government needs to tighten their belt and start slashing the excess. Americans have been doing that already since 2007.
Also, our government is way behind in the times. the stimulus package to build bridges was a great idea for the great Depression when the workforces consisted of skilled labor and not much diversity. Today, that plan was doomed from the start. Man has been replaced by machinery and the work force of today is not ONLY in construction.
This government needs creativity and a economic plan to MAKE companies WANT to hire again.
Point/Counterpoint
August 9th, 2011
9:10 am
Tom E. Gunn – “Also, the state is VERY liberal in allowing people to collect. I have saw first hand people dismissed for excessive absence, bad job preformance, etc. go down and be awarded compensation.”
Amen! The burden of proof falls 100% on the employer. Trey story, I received a notification of a UI hearing THE DAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO ATTEND WITH MY CLIENT. Granted, it was probably an error due to mail delivery being delayed over a holiday. However, i called the DOL and told them that I couldn’t appear, becuase 1. My client was on vacation (keep in mind this was July of 2009) and 2. I didn’t have sufficient time to prepare for the Appeal. After informing them that I had just gotten the notice that same day, I was told that I had to show up or forfeit. So I took the employee file and had to fend for myself. I presented time records going back 6 months that clearly showed the employee had routinely come in late, called off without notice, was a no call no show on several occasions. All documented in the time record. Granted, I had repeatedly told my client in the past to terminate, but they failed to do so. So the hearing officer looks at me and asks me if i have any witnesses. After explaining to her that i just received the notice and didn’t have time to preoare, she reprimanded me for not having any witness to verify the documents. I told hr that the time report is a computer generated document and an accurate record of the employees attendance for which he was terminated. Anyway, the employees defense was that he was a single parent and needed to take timer off anytime his child was sick or if he couldn’t get a sitter. Despite the recorder time violations and many pleas to the Hearing officer, we received notification that the employee was granted benefits due to “lack of evidence” for termination. All totaled, the employee received over $22,000 in UI while working for a friend who paid him under the table. You want to save money on benefits? Give to ONLY THOSE WHO DESERVE THEM!
mike
August 9th, 2011
9:10 am
Interesting how people blame the laid off workers for the problems with the UI system. I am still waiting on all the jobs the repubs said were coming once they got in office. I guess they were referring to all the fruit and vegetable picking jobs in middle and south Georgia. I see on the national level the so called job creators seemed to have created all the jobs overseas. But it is better to blame the middle class for this economic crisis.
Edward
August 9th, 2011
9:15 am
It is not in the capitalist/corporatist interest to hire more employees because that cuts into profits. Profit and returns to investors and salaries to CEOs are the top priority. As long as the fascist/capitalist/corporatist atmosphere is dominate, unemployment will continue to rise. Want a job? Move to India.
Worked Since I Was 10
August 9th, 2011
9:26 am
I am 64 years old. Until March of this year, I have worked everyday of my life since I was 10 years old. When I left one job, I had another lined up. I always earned a buck! I never had to file for unemployment benefits, until I was laid off from my job in which I performed exceptionally well. I was laid off because the company changed its customer market and started focusing on new skill-sets for its employees. Rather than re-train me in these new areas, the company decided it was cheaper for them to lay me (and several others) off.
So, to you bagger and to any others out there who think any of us now receiving our whopping $260 per week average benefit are “parasites,” I say, “Hope you’re never in a situation where you’re forced to file for the help.” I have paid taxes, served my country in the Vietnam War and raised children who have turned out to be excellent citizens. So, bagger, what have you done to make this country better?
You can kiss my behind.
It's Temporary Assistance
August 9th, 2011
9:59 am
I’ve been working since I was 12 (had a paper route) and continued to work since then. I lost my job in March 2011 and had to apply for unemployment benefits. I received $330 per week in benefits. I’m not sure why people think the majority receiving this small amount of money is scamming the system and living it up. Thank God I had savings to keep me afloat in paying my mortgage and household bills. Thank God for the food stamps I was able to receive in order to eat.
Every single day that I was laid off, I applied to numerous jobs, went on countless interviews and in just 2 months, I was offered a great position making more money than I’ve ever made, which I gladly accepted. Not everyone is looking to get over or think they’ve made it to easy street when they receive benefits. Once I started my job, I reported my income to unemployment so that I would not receive funds I was not entitled to. I also did not receive food stamps anymore. It was only temporary until I got back on my feet.
Who in their right mind would prefer to try to live off of $330.00 a week indefinitely? Those programs are there for those who need temporary assistance, not to make a lifestyle of it.
blackprix
August 9th, 2011
10:03 am
Anyone who thinks Americans want to collect unemployment over having a job with benefits is absolutely nuts!!
People are not out of work by choice. Cutting unemployment benefits in the current economic climate is a farce. Hardworking Americans are suffering and idiot lawmakers are making idiotic decisions … this is not acceptable!!!!!
gm
August 9th, 2011
10:07 am
Let see you stupid hicks vote the same rep conservatives in office for the last 10 years and you expect change ha, ha,
Sonny, Deal and the rest of the good old boys in Georgia care less about bringing jobs, and improving Georgia way of life, hicks in south georgia hate the people in metro Atl because they are trying to live in the 21st Century with the rest of the world.
Oh I forgot, its Obama faults has been the Gov in Georgia the past decade””’
rojer
August 9th, 2011
10:16 am
$330 a week is a lot of money. You could pay a decent mortgage with that every month. Bottom line is that some of my contractors dont even make that every week and if they increase my unemployment taxes, then thats coming right out of those contractor payments.
Employer
August 9th, 2011
10:22 am
I’ll keep this in mind the next time I get ready to hire someone. If I really need an additional employee, I will just probably pay them less to make up for the difference.
Employer
August 9th, 2011
10:25 am
About 25 cents per hour in pay cut for each employee should do the trick.
tc
August 9th, 2011
10:36 am
My husband has been doing auto body work for 35 years and after “cash for clunkers” there was no more work for his only skill. He was laid off in 2009 and went from $75k per year to $15k per year on UI. Do you honestly think we have been living on a high horse since then? Body shops are shutting down every day because the average americans are taking their insurance money after a wreck and paying their mortgage instead of fixing their cars. There are no body shop positions in our area and after 2 years his UI is exhausted and he still can’t find work. I make just enough to cover our mortage and we depended on that little bit of UI to buy my kids groceries and pay our power bill. This is the first year my children have had to start school without any new school clothes or even shoes. He paid taxes for 35yrs of his life and I’m currently paying. Please don’t call us parasites or lazy. He want nothing more than to find a job. If you want to contribute, fixe that car when someone rear ends you instead of sticking the $$ in your pocket.
N-GA
August 9th, 2011
10:46 am
For those of you over 50 looking for work, good luck. Age discrimination is alive and well. Employers don’t want to pay older workers for their experience. They also don’t want to open themselves up to higher health insurance rate.
Difficult if not impossible to prove, though.
STOP
August 9th, 2011
10:49 am
Stop blaming the government.
Get off your couch and go find a job. They are plenty of jobs out there
Employer
August 9th, 2011
10:53 am
$75K for body shop work? Are you kidding me? Maybe he was working on Lamborghini’s? Teachers don’t make that kind of money and they have college degrees, and a lot more responsibility for society as a whole, for crying out loud. Who, in the right mind, would pay someone $75K to fix and paint car fenders? Many doctors don’t make that and think about how much it cost them to go to school vs how much it costs at the trade school to learn body shop work. No wonder it costs so freaking much to have a car fixed after a wreck. If he was making that much doing that type of work, good for you; you hit the lottery! I don’t consider y’all parasites; this economy sucks right now due to the complete ineptitude of our fearless community organizer. Your husband will find work again, I’m sure. But don’t be looking for that $75K again any time soon.
STOP
August 9th, 2011
10:54 am
Destin Dog: Yes, they should be required to do community service for their check. They need to earn it instead of sitting all day at home blaming the government for their problems.
Clemm
August 9th, 2011
11:02 am
“Who, in the right mind, would pay someone $75K to fix and paint car fenders? Many doctors don’t make that…”
I seriously doubt many, if any, medical doctors make less than $75K/year.
Hugo
August 9th, 2011
11:07 am
@STOP
And then you and your employer can pay even more taxes to set up and monitor the community service program. Brilliant idea.
namealreadyused
August 9th, 2011
11:14 am
To Bagger and friends: I have been working and paying taxes since 1962 with a perfect attendance record. I am not a parasite and have never been lazy. I was let go due to current business conditions beyond my control. I am not living high on the $260 per week. I sure hope STOP and Bagger and EX DOL Worker and Buzz G are secure in their jobs because it can happen to anyone these days. Oh, and Bagger, as far as the cake, I would like chocolate. Yum!
Debby
August 9th, 2011
11:17 am
Employer: I think it is highly possible for a skilled auto body person to make $75,000/ As a matter of fact, many skilled in a trade (plumber, electrician, HVAC etc.) can make very good money. It’s a bit snobbish to think that only those with degrees can make decent money. Maybe it’s time for people to think twice about that college degree and go learn a trade that’s needed.
Truth
August 9th, 2011
11:19 am
This is why you have to take care of yourself. You must save 15% of your gross income beginning with your first job after HS or college. This means you must delay satisfaction. No smart phones, cable tv, internet, new cars, large house with large property tax & utility bill, no credit card debt.
Rose
August 9th, 2011
11:21 am
@destin dawg: “unemployed should be required to do community service/work to get benefits..” That sounds like chain gang mentality. That’s what they do with prisoners. In what world, that you live in, is it a crime to be unemployed? It’s a horrible situation, you cannot live on unemployment, most people do not want to live on unemployment benefits but that’s what they’re for. So “destin” when was the last time you were unemployed?? How’d it feel?? If the “work to get benefits” would end up in a job that would be incentive. Otherwise, counterproductive to FINDING a job.
John
August 9th, 2011
11:22 am
Enter your comments here
destin dawg
August 9th, 2011
11:23 am
plenty of jobs out there.. food service… casual dining.. not just fast food… medical.. nursing.. nursing homes.. elderly care… think outside the box.. home cleaning… baby sitting.. hell you can make $1000 cutting grass.. if you can fix irragation systems.. $1500/week… get a job… don’t just send out resumes.. you may not be qualified or over qualified…
Truth
August 9th, 2011
11:24 am
Tell your children to work for themselves but if they do they must make a lot of money or it’s not worth it plus everyone will want your wealth.
Or tell them to work for the Federal government, hard to get fired, cheap insurance and full retirement (They still have Pensions).
This is the truth.
destin dawg
August 9th, 2011
11:27 am
Rose.. I’m retired because I worked hard.. saved and invested.. was let go at 57 .. in company austerity.. if you’re unemployed what are you doing on here ??
tc
August 9th, 2011
11:36 am
Employer, yes he averaged $75k a year but worked MANY hours a week to get there. He would love to have just 1/2 of that now. As with a mechanic, if you’re good at it, you can make the $$ but if you’re slow and not accurate as most, the average is on $50k. When you see that fresh out of school kid working on your car, it takes him 60 hours to do a 50 hour job but my husband can do the same 60 hour job in 30. It’s call comission based on skill pay.
Worked Since I Was 10
August 9th, 2011
11:37 am
To STOP and Employer and all the rest of you boneheads who believe the unemployed are guilty of something, making unemployed do community service is impractical because the unemployed are required by DOL to be spending each day looking for jobs and documenting the fact you’ve done so. When I’m not looking for a job every day, I’m keeping track of every effort I’m making to find them. You people are creeps.
sickofit
August 9th, 2011
11:44 am
@ destin dawg and stop i just pray to god that one day you are on this side of the fence. My husband was let go due to down sizing. he has work all his life and never asked for any kind of help. all he wants is a job , he goes to interviews where 500 other people have applied also. Your idea of community services is outragous you act as if they have Committed some kind of crime. The only crime is what Obama has done to our economy.
independent
August 9th, 2011
11:47 am
if you had to do community service.. like at a school, church, hospital, nursing home you could be networking… of course if community service was required deadbeats would get a job… they always do after benefits run out..
Jon
August 9th, 2011
12:10 pm
Congratulations Henry, I think this is the closest thing to an actual article I’ve ever seen you write. I like it, you should do more of this. The old list of quick bullet points and a quick “what do you think” is hardly fodder for real intellectual engagement and dialogue. Though to be fair, from the tone of most posters on this blog, intellectual engagement and dialogue seem to be the last thing they are here for.
Really Henry, you are a gentleman with a bit of vintage, and therefore have the advantage of your experiences to draw on and to lend context to the subjects of which you write. It is a shame that you don’t use your skills more and write lengthier prose on the topics you choose. I like the context you have given by listing some of the possible solutions being considered for this particular problem.
How about more of this sort of thing.
Billy
August 9th, 2011
12:16 pm
All the people on here that ridicule others who are unemployed, you yourself will come upon hard times, because you cursed the poor.
Doesn’t matter if they deserve it–most do, but instead of compasion you chose to curse them, so you will be cursed as well. Better to keep your mouth shut than to open yourself up to target practice.
Read Proverbs if you still don’t get the point…
looking for a job myself
August 9th, 2011
12:24 pm
When I was getting Unemployment, I requested the DOL to let me work for them to stay active or arrange for me to work for my town public works so I could stay active and work for some of my check. They laughed everytime I tried to do this. Gov Deal…………We want to work
Shavondrea
August 9th, 2011
12:45 pm
“Georgia employers are almost certainly going to pay higher unemployment insurance taxes next year…”
I hope employers will push back hard against that. Business conditions are challenging enough without having to shell out still more $ for loafers who won’t work.
96 weeks of welfare (26 state + 73 fed) only encourages goldbricks to sit @ home and watch TV for as long as they can get away with it.
looking for a job myself
August 9th, 2011
12:48 pm
BTW I agree that there is definite age discrimination out here. I got laid off at 57 and I have never been turned down before I can even sell myself. They can get away with it because it is hard to prove. Hang in there. I have to.
Bobby P
August 9th, 2011
12:53 pm
The only way for an employee to lose a UI case is to not show up. As an employer with experience in this, the solution is beyond repair. The DOL is staffed with self-inflated egomaniacs who feel for the poor little guy and are incompetent. I have never let anyone go for lack of work, only poor job performance which was documented to the extreme. I still lost. This is the perfect example of what is wrong with America today. Oh and by the way, I make less than 1% return on my investment in the businesses I own. For those of you that lost your job, and need to cash in on the insurance, you deserve it. The problem is not you, but the typical recipient that scams a new employer every eight months into hiring them and then getting “laid off”.
SA
August 9th, 2011
12:54 pm
To all you who put down the people who are unemployed, saying they are freeloaders.. etc etc.
I hope YOU loose your job.
Enjoy!
Bobby P
August 9th, 2011
12:59 pm
Oh, and Mark Butler. If you want to solve some of the problems with your department, hire an undercover investigator to follow a claim through the system. Boy will your eyes be opened. But, the reality is that before the day is done that you notified your direct reports, your cronyistic organization will be fully informed of the “witch hunt” and the problem solved. Bet on that!
Pamela
August 9th, 2011
12:59 pm
To all of you loosers who think that unemployed people are living it up with the puny $260 per week AFTER taxes you are crazy as hell! You will reap with what you have sewn!
When that day comes it will be a glorious day! 
looking for a job myself
August 9th, 2011
1:01 pm
Being that this is a blog, I would like for employers or hiring personel to advise me how I can get back on the work force. I am 57 yrs old with a degree and plenty of work experience,but I seem to get shut down before I can sell myself. Why won’t the employers hire older people or people that have been out of work for a while. It is really bad for older workers to even get there foot in the door. I am sure others are in the same boat. Appreciate advice from those hiring good or bad. I need the truth. Thanks
tc
August 9th, 2011
1:18 pm
Another thing Employer: Do you realize a good (working) body man spends about 15-20k a year in tools alone? Not to mention they go through 5 pairs of shoes & 20 pairs of pants of a year. It’s a messy job but someone’s got to do it and Yes, it takes a little bitty star bit that costs $150 bucks to get that door panel off of your fancy foriegn car.
Bobby P
August 9th, 2011
1:20 pm
@looking for a job myself
I and others I know often look to hire older employees. They typically have a better work ethic and can communicate more efficiently and effectively than younger workers. ALL hiring managers know that resumes are going to have holes due to this DEPRESSION (yes it is, contrary to what the acacemics or goverment are telling us). If you are truly looking for advice, here is some from my perspective, for what it’s worth.
*Do not try to oversell yourself. Most hiring managers can read a resume and follow work experience and knowledge through to competencies for the job at hand.
*Volunteer to come in as a contractor, temp or at a reduced rate to prove your worth. With all the job seekers out there, this shows you are confident in your abilities and willing to go above the call. Yes, there is some risk that you will be taken advantage of in the short term, but employers are scared to take on liabilities. This insures them some and may get your foot in the door.
*Don’t expect that your experience and longevity in the marketplace is the primary selling point to the employer. Today, most employers are looking for engaging, trustworthy and reliable employees that they can mold into an asset. Be open minded about that. Sell yourself as reliable and open person, not a great accountant, salesman or other.
I sincerely hope this helps.
independent
August 9th, 2011
1:21 pm
remember our grandparents.. lived through the Depression… take any job… don.t have an engineering , technical or medical degree ?? then you might as well not have a degree.. unless you can find a teaching or gov’ job… we can’t all work for the gov’t..?? hospitality/food service, nursing /home care, yard work, painting, even baby sitting or senior/adult care… just get a job that pay$ !!!
Point/Counterpoint
August 9th, 2011
1:32 pm
Bobby P – “I have never let anyone go for lack of work, only poor job performance which was documented to the extreme. I still lost.”
Hey Bobby, whenever possible, appeal the determination to the Board of Review. I have about an 80% success rate with turnovers. If you have good documentation, include it with a position statement to the board and address key areas that you felt were not addressed by the hearing officer. It’s also important that when you do have that hearing, that you get as much evidnce submitted both on paper and on the recorded record. That way you can reference back to that evidence and comple the Board to listen to it. While you arent allowed to submit new evidence to the Board, you are allowed to expound on the evidence presented in the initial appeals hearing to boslter your case. Trust me, it works! Oh, and as an added bonus, if the Board does reverse the decision of the hearing officer, the DOL will adjust your SUTA rating and require the employee to pay back ALL unemployement received since termination plus interest and penalties if they apply. If they don’t pay it back, then the DOL will track them, and they will not be able to get benefits a gain until the original amount has been paid back. My only regret is that I never get to see the “smug” disappear from an employees face who thought they had gamed the system. Not only will they not be getting anymore free checks, they will actually have to start cutting some back to the state! Love it!!
looking for a job myself
August 9th, 2011
1:34 pm
@Bobby P
I never looked at it that way. Thank you very much.
Patrick
August 9th, 2011
2:05 pm
Leave unemployment, cut welfare! Most unemployed want to work while most welfare recipients do not. If the unemployed want people behind their cause, they need to claim “it is for the children” like people do for welfare.
Bobby P
August 9th, 2011
2:24 pm
@Point/ Counterpoint,
I have appealed but have not been very successful. I will use some of your advice. I had plenty of documentation but probabley should have been more thorough; i.e. I included the page of the employee manual referring to fireable offenses instead of the entire manual. Next time, the officer will be inundated with info, that I promise. As you can tell from my rant, my experinces have been very frustrating. This is primarily because the fund is bankrupt, our rates are going up (and if anyone thinks the rates don’t hit the employees themselves, shame on them), and the fund is not helping those it was designed to help. And no one is doing anything to fix it. This is true of all goverment from local on up. Just keep increasing taxes and fees! I wish I could just raise prices at will!
Thanks for the advice.
Employer
August 9th, 2011
3:13 pm
Yo, tc, take a pill or something. First of all, I don’t own an fancy import, as you state. I own a Dodge truck. Second, I find it highly unlikely that anyone would spend $20,000 PER YEAR on tools for a job that makes them $75K. But even if this is true, do you think other professions don’t have expenses? When was the last time you looked up malpractice insurance rates? Has your husband ever been sued for pain and suffering because someone didn’t like the color of paint he used? Give me a break. I do hope he finds work, soon, though, but raising taxes on employers will only serve to stifle an already sluggish job market.
tc
August 9th, 2011
3:25 pm
Employer, I should have said tools & materials in that and no thank you, I don’t need any pills. You found it unlikely that he would make that much a year as well but guess what…he did!! And I know professions have expenses, hell I’m office manager of a business. My point was that out of that $75k, he has to buy all his tools, materials etc. Did you know a quart of red paint costs $175 for the quality paint? Those that love pearl white, well it’s a 3 stage paint that runs around $300 a qt. You went on about how he made too much money for his skill and how getting your car fixed was over priced. I was just trying to fill in the blanks on what some of those high fees are for. As for malpractice insurance, I could care less about the doctors that have screwed our insurance companies for so many years and caused our rates to sky rocket. The majority of docs these days are just indians pushing pills anyway. And thanks you for wishing us well if you truely meant that. Same to you.
more money
August 10th, 2011
7:19 am
the government needs to raise employment taxes so the unemployment benefits can be a lot higher. I’m tired of getting this chump change on unemployment–it’s not nearly enough to pay all my bills.
Stick
August 10th, 2011
10:33 am
more money
August 10th, 2011
7:19 am
They should make us all pitch in and do communty work 2 days per week . 99 weeks for nothing is a long ,long time. Save every bit you can because Obama doesn’t know his $%^#@
Bob Walters
August 11th, 2011
12:52 am
This system is completely perverse. Unemployment insurance provides absolutely no incentive to go out and find a job. Instead there should be an unemployment tax for every week one is unemployed. I guarantee the unemployment rate would quickly approach zero.