bad jobs

[BadMouth]

A long time ago I collected unemployment from Virginia.  They were hardcore about forcing you to look for a job.
I was required to submit 3 resumes or applications a week in order to keep getting a check.

I collected for a few months in Pennsylvania 7 or 8 years ago.
All I had to do was call an automated number and affirm that I hadn't worked that week.
I assume they've gotten pushier since then.

[ChadTower]

During the .com crash I was on unemployment a few separate times in MA.  Never had to do much more than fill out a postcard and send it in.  They never made me take a class, verify that I was looking for work, or anything else.  I assume all of that is online now so not even any need to fill out a postcard.  Granted, I always had the habit of finding part time work that was just up to the max amount I could earn without affecting my benefit amount.  So maybe they didn't see me as a leach.

[dkersten]

they see it as they paid into UI (or EI or whatever you call it wherever you are) you should get some of it back.

Your employer pays into it, not you. Why else would some employers fight it?

In Canada, both employees and employers pay into EI.  Does it not work like that in the U.S.?

No, in the U.S. only the employer pays the unemployment insurance.  Of course, as PBJ said, it can affect the wages a company pays, so chances are you are really paying for it.  Between UEI, SS, and work-comp, the direct cost of employing someone here is upwards of 50% more than their wage (more for really high risk jobs). 

My book income is considered Self Employment because it is not passive, so I have to pay both employer and employee social security tax.  Luckily I don't have to pay unemployment insurance or workman's comp for myself.  My tax rate on book income is already 48.9%, it would suck even worse to have to pay more. 

I have a friend who became unemployed, and by reading conspiracy theory garbage on the internet had come to the conclusion that unemployment was just another socialist program, so he declined to use it.  When I found out, I promptly called him an idiot and asked if he would take an insurance payment if his car was wrecked or his house burned down.  He didn't understand that it was an insurance program, not welfare.  He lived in Colorado at the time though, and it takes 6 weeks from the time you file to get any benefits.  In the 6 months he was out of work he burned through his entire 401k savings and didn't pay the tax penalty.  Now, 8 years later, the govt is garnishing his wages.  He still thinks it is illegal that they tax him, lol.  Internet education.

[pbj]

Yep, took about six weeks to get benefits in Texas, and I was already re-employed when I got the first payment.  Had to log into a website and solemnly affirm I had applied to at least 5 jobs, give very brief details, and be prepared to provide evidence if asked.  I was averaging about 30-50 applications a day, so no big deal.  :-P

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah I don't get this whole anti-government angle.  Sure they often do a poor job at certain things BUT we have some of the best social service programs on the planet.  If you need help the government is there for you, and they should be because YOU PAID FOR IT. 

[ark_ader]

I'm the soul sucking banker you think you know but have no clue.

13 years in, 1st job out of college promoted twice and realized I hate people management and back to selling to people again.

Man you guys think tech support is bad? Try selling consumer banking products when 80% of your market is financially illiterate and the other 20% doesn't trust you because 2008 and other equally unfair character assumptions.

Tell me about it.  I tried being a IFA for a year and it was hard.  Yet I was able to hide a few millions away from the taxman, int the UK,  without the need for off shore accounts, legally.   

[ppv]

Used to work in a mental hospital. Worst job I did was in the laundry facilities. Had to sort a mountain of dirty laundry bags, with gloves and masks on, all the while working with a coworker who liked easy listening radio.

[DaredevilDave]

I managed a strip/bikini bar for 5 years. Best job AND worst job. When it was good it was great, when it was bad it royally sucked! Like "pull my hair out lucky for you I don't carry a gun" bad.

Dancers, drunks, drunk dancers - ya I know poor me, but after 6 months it was basically adult day care. Girls and customers.

I got to the point where I told the girls, "If you can't come to work, just let me know so I can find a replacement, or better yet, find your own - bonus points for you. I don't care why you "can't" work, your excuses will be ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow--- anyways! Just let me know asap and we're cool."

I had a lot of fun too - lotta stories.

Job 2:

When I was young I had a job at an IBM plant here, after hours as a temp. It was in a humongous server room, like 2 football fields side by side. I don't know - monstrous. They had the big towers with the big spools of tape spinning like in the old movies haha.

I had to run cable under the floor from machine to machine. Me and some guys. Pulling up floor tiles with suction cups. That job lasted a week and I bailed.

One perk - the room was soooo big you could sneak off and smoke a bowl and nobody would know LOL.

[eds1275]

Now I work in a warehouse that provides magazines, candy, and pop to vending machines and gift shops. They also deal with arcade machines but nothing good. It's a stepping stone I keep telling myself.

[BadMouth]

Now I work in a warehouse that provides magazines, candy, and pop to vending machines and gift shops. They also deal with arcade machines but nothing good. It's a stepping stone I keep telling myself.

I like warehouse work.  I was a warehouse supervisor before the factory was moved to Mexico.
(I didn't expect anyone to work harder than me, but I worked hard). 
Current desk job pays twice as much, but destroys my will to live.
There is absolutely nothing good about it other than the money and being able to screw around on BYOAC occasionally.
I don't do anything I can take pride in.  I keep having to find new levels of not giving a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

[pbj]

I managed a strip/bikini bar for 5 years.

Any of the talent ever suck you off?

One perk - the room was soooo big you could sneak off and smoke a bowl and nobody would know LOL.

Everybody knew.

There is absolutely nothing good about it other than the money and being able to screw around on BYOAC occasionally.
I don't do anything I can take pride in.  I keep having to find new levels of not giving a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

Best solution to increasing your desk job satisfaction level is to find a new one paying more money.

[eds1275]

I like warehouse work.  I was a warehouse supervisor before the factory was moved to Mexico.
(I didn't expect anyone to work harder than me, but I worked hard). 
Current desk job pays twice as much, but destroys my will to live.
There is absolutely nothing good about it other than the money and being able to screw around on BYOAC occasionally.
I don't do anything I can take pride in.  I keep having to find new levels of not giving a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.

I like it as well. but the problem is Coca Cola shows up whenever they feel like it, and not when they say. Whoever is working just dumps it end to end in the warehouse, and therefore i can either pull everything out and load it in an order that makes sense, or unload it however it is which means carrying heavy loads by hand. The pallets get dumped in a way that makes it impossible to get the forklift in.

   I've got a job interview monday for something bigger and better. Also lets me work alone and provides benefits, a work truck and cell phone.