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For many, losing a job maybe preferable so they can collect unemployment. Edit for what I thought was obvious context: If you had a full-time job and where fo

For many, losing a job maybe preferable so they can collect unemployment. Edit for what I thought was obvious context: If you had a full-time job and where forced to go to meager part-time hours, it might be better to just get laid off and collect. I had a friend in this situation. It would have been better for him to have been laid off.

dangus 7y ago
How? Unemployment is limited to half your pay.
- owenmarshall 7y ago
  My charitable read would be to append: "... so they don't have to risk being infected at this time." A less charitable read is also quite possible.
  - lkbm 7y ago
    Many service workers are getting a lot less money per hour worked than before because they're tip-based. A lot of employees also just lost their childcare as schools and day-cares closed. Getting half-pay and being free to take care of your children could be preferable to getting half- or even 80%-pay while having to find and pay a babysitter for the time you're still working. Also, to add to your point, most service workers don't get sick leave, so it's not just the risk of being infected -- if you get sick, you don't get paid. Unemployment still pays sick people.
- ilikehurdles 7y ago
  Not necessarily. Colorado's is something like 80% of your weekly compensation (I think the math looks at the average of the last 20 weeks of employment).
  - dangus 7y ago
    Hm, true, I guess I neglected to remember that unemployment is a state-managed program.
inferiorhuman 7y ago
A reduction in hours can qualify you for unemployment insurance.
vuln 7y ago
Unemployment now covers coronavirus. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/what-to-do-if-youre-laid-off-due-to-coronavirus-closures/2329410/ https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/what-to-do-if-yo...
rubidium 7y ago
Loosing a fully paying job is never preferable to unemployment in the US. E.g. “ If you are eligible to receive unemployment, the weekly benefit rate in Indiana is 47% of your average weekly wage (to come up with your average weekly wage, divide your total wages during the base period by 52). The weekly benefit rate is subject to a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $390. You may receive benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks.”
- 8ytecoder 7y ago
  But it could be a temporary thing. Service workers can be laid off temporarily and hired back. Essentially offloading them from the company's payroll and adding them to the states'. Instead, if there's an option for states to provide unemployment without actually getting fired - disability? - for anyone affected not just those with the virus could also help in these times. There are a ton of businesses that operate on thin margins - restaurant and service industry in general - and it makes sense for the government to step in.
- IanDrake 7y ago
  >Loosing a fully paying job is never preferable to unemployment in the US. Is that what I said? No, it's not.
lkbm 7y ago
Unfortunately, I don't think part-time employees can collect unemployment. I'm guessing part-timers were the most effected, since that includes most restaurant workers.
- inferiorhuman 7y ago
  That probably varies by state. In California your UI payout is determined by your average W2 income over the past six(?) months. Front of house workers would be covered, but may be at a disadvantage due to tips.

dangus 7y ago

How? Unemployment is limited to half your pay.

owenmarshall 7y ago
My charitable read would be to append: "... so they don't have to risk being infected at this time." A less charitable read is also quite possible.
- lkbm 7y ago
  Many service workers are getting a lot less money per hour worked than before because they're tip-based. A lot of employees also just lost their childcare as schools and day-cares closed. Getting half-pay and being free to take care of your children could be preferable to getting half- or even 80%-pay while having to find and pay a babysitter for the time you're still working. Also, to add to your point, most service workers don't get sick leave, so it's not just the risk of being infected -- if you get sick, you don't get paid. Unemployment still pays sick people.
ilikehurdles 7y ago
Not necessarily. Colorado's is something like 80% of your weekly compensation (I think the math looks at the average of the last 20 weeks of employment).
- dangus 7y ago
  Hm, true, I guess I neglected to remember that unemployment is a state-managed program.

inferiorhuman 7y ago

A reduction in hours can qualify you for unemployment insurance.

vuln 7y ago

Unemployment now covers coronavirus. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/what-to-do-if-youre-laid-off-due-to-coronavirus-closures/2329410/ https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/what-to-do-if-yo...

rubidium 7y ago

Loosing a fully paying job is never preferable to unemployment in the US. E.g. “ If you are eligible to receive unemployment, the weekly benefit rate in Indiana is 47% of your average weekly wage (to come up with your average weekly wage, divide your total wages during the base period by 52). The weekly benefit rate is subject to a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $390. You may receive benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks.”

8ytecoder 7y ago
But it could be a temporary thing. Service workers can be laid off temporarily and hired back. Essentially offloading them from the company's payroll and adding them to the states'. Instead, if there's an option for states to provide unemployment without actually getting fired - disability? - for anyone affected not just those with the virus could also help in these times. There are a ton of businesses that operate on thin margins - restaurant and service industry in general - and it makes sense for the government to step in.
IanDrake 7y ago
>Loosing a fully paying job is never preferable to unemployment in the US. Is that what I said? No, it's not.

lkbm 7y ago

Unfortunately, I don't think part-time employees can collect unemployment. I'm guessing part-timers were the most effected, since that includes most restaurant workers.

inferiorhuman 7y ago
That probably varies by state. In California your UI payout is determined by your average W2 income over the past six(?) months. Front of house workers would be covered, but may be at a disadvantage due to tips.