I do not know first-hand, because it has been 5 weeks, no benefits for me, but I did find an article on our local news in the Detroit area that gives some practical tips. The checklist is short and somewhat simple:
*DO check whether you're covered.* The reassuring message from the UIA for me has been consistently to tell me how many weeks I am entitled to receive, though it does not mention a dollar amount and does not give a "date last paid" since I have not been paid. At least I know that I do "qualify". Check this out right away - you can check right online in Michigan: www.michigan.gov/uia
*DO bring documentation. - Bring a detailed work history, pay stubs, Social Security card and a dismissal notice. Don't take anything for granted: overprepare.*
*DO explain your predicament properly.* This is the TRICKY one! Now, I presented my case over the phone to a very nice UIA employee who worded my claim "not enough work". This does not seem to be doing the trick and is not the same as "stopped paying me". I was disappointed and my former employer was angered into fighting back by these words they believed I fashioned but did not. The best and KEY PHRASE is *"discharged without any misconduct."* Use it wisely.
*DON'T reduce your odds. There is a short list of things that can disqualify you from these benefits. Being fired for deliberate and repeated misconduct is a tough one to get around. Also, if you have refused a similar job and similar pay. Finally if you were on strike or quit your job for no reason.* I would like to add that the State of Michigan is already overburdened with not only the amount to be paid out in unemployment benefits, but the sheer work of distributing the funds. To quote Stephen Colbert, "Right now the only safe career is telling people they're fired.'" and in Michigan, we are all applying to the UIA (Unemployment Insurance Agency).
There is a movement across the nation, no, across the world, to work from home. This is not "envelope stuffing" from days gone by, so do not be misled by those ads! These are legitimate companies that hire customer service representatives and other positions to work from their own home offices. More about legitimate working from home opportunities.
In our area of southeastern Michigan, the local news has gone as far as to teach us how to respond to our friends and families when they tell us they have lost their job. Probably a better answer than "I have no idea what to say." Although, that is not a bad answer, really. Click here to learn the finer points of how that conversation should go.
The recording at Unemployment states that it will take 6 weeks to get paid. I have heard people being paid much faster than that and I have heard people being paid much, much later than that. It has been 5 weeks for me. It would possibly have helped me to use that phrase, "discharged without any misconduct". I hope this information helps make it less for you.
* Source: www.wxyz.com Author: Bob Rosner
Source: www.wxyz.com "Work From Home"
Source: The Colbert Report
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Quick Off-Topic: Give It A Rest, Santa!
Now, my company does have a male enhancer for sale and another in development, but I promise this has nothing to do with competition.
There is a certain company that has a little blue pill - over the counter, not THAT little blue pill... - anyway, they had a commercial featuring Santa Claus and a line of ladies that came out maybe in Oct. of 2008, maybe sooner, maybe later. It was kind of cute and funny, at first, but after repeated viewing, one gets a chance to analyze a commercial more than it is prepared to handle.
Now the commercial appears to be made to appeal directly to child molesters with the long line of waggle-butt ladies waiting to sit on Santa's lap. I understand they are showing full grown women, but who usually stands in line for Santa?
By the way, this is February 19th, 2009 - YEP - PAST Valentine's Day even! And wouldn't that have been a great holiday for a shiny new commercial? Come on, guys, part with the money for a new commercial, it's simply gotten old and we have had waaaay too much time to read into it.
There is a certain company that has a little blue pill - over the counter, not THAT little blue pill... - anyway, they had a commercial featuring Santa Claus and a line of ladies that came out maybe in Oct. of 2008, maybe sooner, maybe later. It was kind of cute and funny, at first, but after repeated viewing, one gets a chance to analyze a commercial more than it is prepared to handle.
Now the commercial appears to be made to appeal directly to child molesters with the long line of waggle-butt ladies waiting to sit on Santa's lap. I understand they are showing full grown women, but who usually stands in line for Santa?
By the way, this is February 19th, 2009 - YEP - PAST Valentine's Day even! And wouldn't that have been a great holiday for a shiny new commercial? Come on, guys, part with the money for a new commercial, it's simply gotten old and we have had waaaay too much time to read into it.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Paycheck
There are certain things I will not post here, but for those of you following to see how long it takes to be paid by Michigan Unemployment, know that I have not been paid. It has been 5 weeks since my last "paycheck". Sounds almost like a confession, right? "Forgive me, Father, it has been 5 weeks since my last paycheck..." Most people are saying that it takes 6 weeks to get your first Unemployment check in Michigan. Since it has been 24 years since I have gone through this process, waiting that long sounded unimaginable, especially knowing that most people live paycheck to paycheck (if even) in this state.
My last employer left a voice message for me saying that they would have to oppose my filing due to the wording, but those are not my words. Rather than end up losing all of my rights or compromising my position in any way, I decided not to call him back. What would I say to him? "Those are not my words." "It would be in your best interest to simply put it through so you can avoid investigation." "I told them the truth, they fashioned the words." "You stopped paying me!" No, it is best left alone. If I am hauled into court or arbitration or whatever it is, I will post the correct name of the process here and also my experiences.
I really hate confrontation. I am one of those people who could go through life fairly happy by simply using the art of compromise. Happily, I have a secret weapon on my side and if I am brought into a situation with my last employer, I will likely win. I always win in court.
In one week, I will call in to the state again. This will be my 2nd "scheduled" call in which is done every other week. I filed on 1-15-09 and today is 2-18-09. If you live in Michigan and have a job in an "iffy" industry (or not), I suggest you seriously start to save money for emergency backup. Suze Orman, www.SuzeOrman.com, suggests 6-8 months emergency fund. If that sounds like a lot, it probably is, but consider what it represents; 6-8 months of having no paycheck coming in. Now it may sound more important. At LEAST make sure you have 6 weeks saved-and that is so far. I know it's hard. Read my previous posts to see what industry I was working in and what happened.
My last employer left a voice message for me saying that they would have to oppose my filing due to the wording, but those are not my words. Rather than end up losing all of my rights or compromising my position in any way, I decided not to call him back. What would I say to him? "Those are not my words." "It would be in your best interest to simply put it through so you can avoid investigation." "I told them the truth, they fashioned the words." "You stopped paying me!" No, it is best left alone. If I am hauled into court or arbitration or whatever it is, I will post the correct name of the process here and also my experiences.
I really hate confrontation. I am one of those people who could go through life fairly happy by simply using the art of compromise. Happily, I have a secret weapon on my side and if I am brought into a situation with my last employer, I will likely win. I always win in court.
In one week, I will call in to the state again. This will be my 2nd "scheduled" call in which is done every other week. I filed on 1-15-09 and today is 2-18-09. If you live in Michigan and have a job in an "iffy" industry (or not), I suggest you seriously start to save money for emergency backup. Suze Orman, www.SuzeOrman.com, suggests 6-8 months emergency fund. If that sounds like a lot, it probably is, but consider what it represents; 6-8 months of having no paycheck coming in. Now it may sound more important. At LEAST make sure you have 6 weeks saved-and that is so far. I know it's hard. Read my previous posts to see what industry I was working in and what happened.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Clean Out Your Desk...
Usually, when you leave a job, you clean out your desk, right?
In this case, I was not sure what I was doing there. I mean, there I was sitting at my desk on a Wednesday, when just that Monday I had been informed that sales was going to straight commission and that my commission would drop by 13%~! The new plan for me was to send out several salespeople for closing - have me set appointments for closers to go in - as if I am not a closer. I am a closer. The sale, in this case, would pay me $6 BEFORE taxes (no base pay, remember?) and this is IF someone actually went out to close the sale!
The thing that is preposterous about the situation, is that we were selling internet advertising. You can sell that by phone, email, links, SCADS of ways that do not involve driving all over the place and looking incompetent because your laptop can't pick up a connection. There is a ridiculous reason for this, but I am bound by contract not to discuss it-you would have to sign a contract, too. I'm not kidding. Just know that I thought it was unnecessary to venture outbound - and I am right in this case.
I began to think how easy it is to sell something in my business that would bring me $6 and it was just bizarre that I kept going there, staying all day Monday, returning on Tuesday AND Wednesday. At some point it occurred to me that there was no check waiting for me even though I spent the gas and time getting there each day; even though I was acting as receptionist and more inside. I started to see how I had become "Milton" from "Office Space" and everyone else was very soon to follow. On that Wednesday, I began to think perhaps I should not return again.
I should have brought my things home.
My Rolladex, globe paperweight, Slinky, silk potted plants, vanilla diffuser, white board, etc. all remained and remain at work. Our office manager offered to meet with me last weekend to get my stuff to me and I could not - it was a Dad weekend. This weekend, well, I just have not called her or anything. Not really sure why not. Part of me is afraid that I will get talked into going back to work for free. It's scary to think I could be that dedicated, but I'm afraid it's true and a real possibility! Instead, I realized that these were all just things, things that could be replaced if necessary except for the Rolladex. The Rolladex can always be rebuilt, however, can't it?
Sometimes avoidance is a good thing. Especially when it keeps you from engaging in self-destructive behavior such as working for free. If you find yourself in that situation, clean out your desk, you can always bring everything back in tomorrow.
In this case, I was not sure what I was doing there. I mean, there I was sitting at my desk on a Wednesday, when just that Monday I had been informed that sales was going to straight commission and that my commission would drop by 13%~! The new plan for me was to send out several salespeople for closing - have me set appointments for closers to go in - as if I am not a closer. I am a closer. The sale, in this case, would pay me $6 BEFORE taxes (no base pay, remember?) and this is IF someone actually went out to close the sale!
The thing that is preposterous about the situation, is that we were selling internet advertising. You can sell that by phone, email, links, SCADS of ways that do not involve driving all over the place and looking incompetent because your laptop can't pick up a connection. There is a ridiculous reason for this, but I am bound by contract not to discuss it-you would have to sign a contract, too. I'm not kidding. Just know that I thought it was unnecessary to venture outbound - and I am right in this case.
I began to think how easy it is to sell something in my business that would bring me $6 and it was just bizarre that I kept going there, staying all day Monday, returning on Tuesday AND Wednesday. At some point it occurred to me that there was no check waiting for me even though I spent the gas and time getting there each day; even though I was acting as receptionist and more inside. I started to see how I had become "Milton" from "Office Space" and everyone else was very soon to follow. On that Wednesday, I began to think perhaps I should not return again.
I should have brought my things home.
My Rolladex, globe paperweight, Slinky, silk potted plants, vanilla diffuser, white board, etc. all remained and remain at work. Our office manager offered to meet with me last weekend to get my stuff to me and I could not - it was a Dad weekend. This weekend, well, I just have not called her or anything. Not really sure why not. Part of me is afraid that I will get talked into going back to work for free. It's scary to think I could be that dedicated, but I'm afraid it's true and a real possibility! Instead, I realized that these were all just things, things that could be replaced if necessary except for the Rolladex. The Rolladex can always be rebuilt, however, can't it?
Sometimes avoidance is a good thing. Especially when it keeps you from engaging in self-destructive behavior such as working for free. If you find yourself in that situation, clean out your desk, you can always bring everything back in tomorrow.
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