Should workers be able to collect unemployment in the offseason?

[Mai72]

I live in a resort town in New Jersey. The summers which last from mid-April to September are very busy. During the month of September and until Columbus Day the weekends are busy with events.

It's very common for people to bust their butts during the summer months, but when November hits they go on to collect their unemployment checks. The average check is about $375 a week, and they can expect to get paid until mid-April. That's about 6 months of not working. Doing absolutely nothing. Yea, it's not much money but it's something. The main thing is they have the time to themselves to whatever they want, and time is much more valuable than money. You can't place a value on time.

So. should states end seasonal unemployment so they can fix their budgets? I know NJ and a few other states were considering doing this. In Georgia, they ended seasonal unemployment for bus drivers. But, that was a few years ago, and I know many people were against it.

 

[lxskllr]

Unemployment is paid by employers. Employers that have more frequent layoffs pay higher rates. So no, unemployment benefits shouldn't change(under the current system).

 

[Mai72]

Unemployment is paid by employers. Employers that have more frequent layoffs pay higher rates. So no, unemployment benefits shouldn't change(under the current system).

I just read a statement from a Republican senator from NJ. His concern was that seasonal unemployment puts the burden on the taxpayers. He must have been talking about lifeguards since the taxpayers pay their wages?

 

[waffleironhead]

Most seasonal workers cant collect unemployment here in wisconsin afaik. Its a summer job ffs.

 

[lxskllr]

I just read a statement from a Republican senator from NJ. His concern was that seasonal unemployment puts the burden on the taxpayers. He must have been talking about lifeguards since the taxpayers pay their wages?

Could be. Also, for extended unemployment(like the last depression), the government can throw in some money as well. Typically though, it's *insurance*, and already paid for. They could get rid of it, and pay higher wages. That would place the burden of saving on the individual. I'm not opposed to that, but the *higher wages*, and *personal savings* would be an issue. Education regarding employment and finance would need to be taught(more) in school.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Education regarding employment and finance would need to be taught(more) in school.

Amen. Near as I can tell, they no longer teach civics in school.

 

[DrPizza]

I know a lot of guys in construction - during the spring, summer, fall, they work a lot of overtime - including overtime, they make a lot of money. Then, they take the entire winter off - a paid (by unemployment) 3 month vacation. They hunt a lot, and occasionally do side jobs for cash.

 

[Sonikku]

I just read a statement from a Republican senator from NJ. His concern was that seasonal unemployment puts the burden on the taxpayers. He must have been talking about lifeguards since the taxpayers pay their wages?

The employer pays the unemployment, forcing them to raise their prices to compensate that are in turn paid for by tax paying customers.

 

[John Connor]

Better not. My dad works laying fiber optic cable and then collects unemployment. Won't be long and he will retire though.

 

[BoomerD]

I know a lot of guys in construction - during the spring, summer, fall, they work a lot of overtime - including overtime, they make a lot of money. Then, they take the entire winter off - a paid (by unemployment) 3 month vacation. They hunt a lot, and occasionally do side jobs for cash.

Fishing and Hunting for Dollars!!

I worked construction for more than 30 years. MOST years I worked all year, but there were several years where I was off Nov-March...and collected unemployment without having to actually go out and look for work. (Just had to be on the out-of-work list at the union hall and available for a job)

I've worked with a lot of guys whose goal was to get the 1320 hours each year that would give them H&W coverage for the year...plus that also met the 1000 hour requirement for their pension credit.
Me, I wanted at least 2500 hours each year...and 3000 was better.


BTW, some states require a contribution from the employee into the unemployment insurance pool...it's usually a pretty small amount...but it's still not always 100% employer paid.

 

[1sikbITCH]

I live in a resort town in New Jersey. The summers which last from mid-April to September are very busy. During the month of September and until Columbus Day the weekends are busy with events.

It's very common for people to bust their butts during the summer months, but when November hits they go on to collect their unemployment checks. The average check is about $375 a week, and they can expect to get paid until mid-April. That's about 6 months of not working. Doing absolutely nothing. Yea, it's not much money but it's something. The main thing is they have the time to themselves to whatever they want, and time is much more valuable than money. You can't place a value on time.

So. should states end seasonal unemployment so they can fix their budgets? I know NJ and a few other states were considering doing this. In Georgia, they ended seasonal unemployment for bus drivers. But, that was a few years ago, and I know many people were against it.

Seasonal unemployment applies to many trades across the country. These trades would disappear if nobody was around to fill the positions. Unavoidable and any stupid idea we come up with here won't work. You should be getting drunk and fucking hotties in bikinis 6 months out of the year instead of crying about it.

IMHO.

 

[bbhaag]

We actually encourage our seasonal employees to file for unemployment. It actually encourages them to come back year after year. We pay the max amount for unemployment insurance so the logic is it's less costly in the long term to have them apply for unemployment and then return the following year then train a new employee from the start.

So far it has worked out fairly well.

 

[1sikbITCH]

We actually encourage our seasonal employees to file for unemployment. It actually encourages them to come back year after year. We pay the max amount for unemployment insurance so the logic is it's less costly in the long term to have them apply for unemployment and then return the following year then train a new employee from the start.

So far it has worked out fairly well.

Told ya!

 

[CPA]

Could be. Also, for extended unemployment(like the last depression), the government can throw in some money as well. Typically though, it's *insurance*, and already paid for. They could get rid of it, and pay higher wages. That would place the burden of saving on the individual. I'm not opposed to that, but the *higher wages*, and *personal savings* would be an issue. Education regarding employment and finance would need to be taught(more) in school.

Extended unemployment like the last recession caused states to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars from the feds to pay those extended benefits that they are still trying to pay off today. And when they don't make the 2-year payoff window the employers in those states get dinged with a reduction of their FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Assessment) credit. This causes the employers to have to pay more in FUTA, which, of course, they push down to the customers. Additonally, many states imposed special tax assessments on employers to pay the interest of these federal borrowings. We all pay for unemployment, and, in particular, extended unemployment.

 

[JimmiG]

At least in Sweden, you are required to actively look for a job in order to receive unemployment benefits. So if you were offered a job, any job, you'd have to take it or lose employment benefits (there are exceptions, obviously). Also you have to report every month which jobs you have applied for, any interviews you've gone to etc.

It's not supposed to be a paid vacation, it's just meant to support you between jobs.

 

[lxskllr]

At least in Sweden, you are required to actively look for a job in order to receive unemployment benefits. So if you were offered a job, any job, you'd have to take it or lose employment benefits (there are exceptions, obviously). Also you have to report every month which jobs you have applied for, any interviews you've gone to etc.

It's not supposed to be a paid vacation, it's just meant to support you between jobs.

That's how it works here. There is temporary and partial unemployment where you expect to get back to work after a short amount of time, but I don't know the particulars.