Day 68: Is the government running an unemployment scam

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 68: Is the government running an unemployment scam

Every now and then, the Canadian and United States government alike likes to boast that the unemployment rate is down by 3%, 6% or even 10%. This is not strictly true. It’s not that a certain percentage of people have found jobs, the truth is that a certain percentage of the unemployed have lost their benefits or were rejected for benefits.

Personally, I work exclusively for Adecco Scarborough and they keep me rather busy. Over the years I’ve become a regular with clients who request my services again and again.

Earlier this year, after having completed a temp assignment I applied for unemployment benefits and received the response that my application was rejected due to lack of hours worked. I had roughly 300 hours and I needed 450.

Later on in the year I applied again for benefits and was again rejected. I had 500 hours and I needed 700.

This week, after having completed more temp assignments, I applied yet again and again my application was rejected. I had 862 hours and I needed 950 hours.

I have two assignments coming up which will give me more than the required 950 hours. My guess is, once I have the 950 hours they will state that I need 1050 hours. And so on and so on. So basically, I will never qualify for unemployment benefits.

The strange thing is though, when I went to the unemployment office, the place was packed with Middle Eastern men and women. All there to collect their money.

Am I being discriminated against because I’m Caucasian? Maybe I should apply for refugee status. Not only will I not need a job, because I will receive ample welfare, but I will get free housing and a bunch of other benefits.

  

Office Team - Totally Unprofessional

If ever there was an unprofessional agency, it’s Office Team. Every so often one of their consultants calls me to come to their offices to update my resume.

I have done this no less than five times. Every time the consultant who looks after my file leaves the agency, and I’m handed over to another consultant, I have to go to their offices to be considered for employment.

The consultants don’t listen very well though. Even though I clearly stated in my application that I can only work downtown and uptown Toronto, North York and Scarborough, they called me twice now for a temp assignment in Brampton and Markham.

When I told the consultant that I don’t have a car and the commute as such would take too long, she got rather snooty with me.

Today one of them called me to come and update my file for the sixth time. When I explained that I had been to their office several times, she responded with “You dare to raise you voice to me.” I didn’t raise my voice, I was trying to be heard over a rather bad phone connection.

When I mentioned this conversation to a friend, he nodded in understanding. He is an ex-Office Team consultant, and stated that every consultant has to have a certain number of job seekers on their books, or their own job is in jeopardy.

He stated not to bother with Office Team, as they have the worst reputation, both with clients and with job seekers. The agency has their favorites, who get called again and again for temp assignments and the rest ... they’re just “book fillers”.

Would you pity her?

Soon my blog will celebrate its sixth anniversary and over the years many readers have asked me where I find inspiration for my posts. One word … Facebook. Whenever I’m short on inspiration, all have to do is scroll through the Facebook posts and something is sure to jump out at me.

Take today for instance. Someone posted a video of a 22-year old African American woman that was aimed to gear up sympathy for the woman’s "dire" situation.

She works at McDonalds at minimum wage, she had a young kid, and has to make do with what she earns, plus what she gets from child support, plus government assistance.

After seeing the video, I got to thinking and watched it again and again and I found quite a few interesting details.

She complained that she only earns minimum wage at McDonalds. Well, at least she has a job. Millions of people don’t and for one reason or another are refused unemployment benefits.

My neighbor also used to work for McDonalds, but he didn’t stay there. He went to night school, put himself through college and obtained a government job.

The woman lives in a two story house with a beautiful big kitchen. Now it so happens that I have friends and acquaintances who are not exactly well off and I can tell you, none of them live in a two story house. One lives in a cheap apartment, the second shares an apartment with a roommate, the third lives in a trailer and the forth rents one room in a house.

None of these people have children (they can't afford them) so they don’t have the benefit of child support and when they applied for government assistance, they were turned down. Subsequently they turned to The Salvation Army, United Way, and other charities and were sent packing.

The woman in the video states that she only buys frozen foods (as fresh food might spoil and be wasted). Not very smart in my opinion. Frozen food is the most expensive. Take carrots for instance. A tin of carrots costs 65 cents, a bushel of fresh carrots costs 99 cents, while a packet of frozen carrots costs $2.45. If she’s worried about wasting food, she can go to the market on a daily basis for what she needs.

She complains that she had to have a tooth pulled because she couldn’t afford root canal. 

I have news for her, I know quite a few people, working people with medical insurance, who can’t afford root canal either. As for me … I wouldn’t want root canal if you offered it to me for free. 

As for the woman herself … she is African American, yet she has long glossy hair. This indicates a) her hair is straightened, b) has extensions, or c) is a wig. Either way, an expensive look.

As for her clothing … she is seen wearing a GAP T-shirt. Anyone who has ever shopped for clothing knows that GAP is an expensive store. Her jacket I recognized as Tommy Hilfiger (designer gear). Some might say that her T-shirt and jacket are knock-offs, but knock off items are still more expensive than no-name clothing.

All in all, my less than rich friends would trade places with this woman any day. She has a job, she lives in a furnished two story house, she receives child support and government assistance … what exactly is she complaining about?

Can you afford to grow old?

I noticed a headline this morning … A Reminder: Growing Old is Not the End of the World.  

And I agree, growing old is nothing to panic about, there are some definite advantages to growing old, unfortunately, there are also some disadvantages. Let’s start top to bottom.

Continue reading at:

http://connymanero.weebly.com/blog/can-you-afford-to-grow-old

When enough is enough

Linda (not her real name) is considering suicide.  After being unemployed for over a year, and having applied to more jobs than she can remember, she finally had a real chance for a job.

She anxiously waited for three weeks while the company screened more candidates and tried not to get her hopes up.  Something that’s easier said than done.  On the one hand she knew that an interview didn’t promise a job, but the interview had gone so well and she was perfect for the job.

This morning she found out that the company has hired someone else and through dumb luck she found out who had beaten her …  a 25 year old woman (Amanda) with 3 kids, all under 5 years old.

Linda doesn’t have the will to carry on anymore.  It’s bad enough to lose out on a job, but to a woman with three young kids!

Of course, the organization who hired Amanda has no idea of her family situation.  After all, asking a job candidate how old she is, whether or not she’s married, if she has any children and their ages is against the law.

The organization is about to find out though, when the kids get sick and Amanda needs time off.  It’s bad enough when one get measles, chicken pocks or another child’s disease, but in this case it’s times three.  Not to mention a number of other things that can go wrong with a child that age. 

Linda on the other hand is a 59 year old woman with no family ties.  She has no kids who will keep her awake at night, get sick or have accidents at the playground.  She will show up for work on time, every time and the word “time off” is not in her vocabulary. 

Is it wrong for Linda to consider packing it in and leaving this world?  Maybe, maybe not.  It sure would send a message to all those stupid employers who see a pretty girl and hire her, regardless of her qualifications, experience and family situation and throw a perfectly qualified older candidate to the curb.

The importance of beauty while job hunting

Do not let anybody tell you that physical appearance while job hunting is not important. It is important. It is very important.

Forget a diploma. Forget experience. Forget everything you ever heard was important to successfully securing a job. Breasts, that's what you need! And the more there is to put on display, the better.

Successful ladies do not hide their biggest assets in a sensible white bra. No, they choose a frilly lacy thing, and put what Mother Nature or a good surgeon gave them on display.

But don't take my word for it. Next time you are in town during business hours, take a look around you. See the young women traipsing around in their business suits? Skirts so tight they can barely set one foot in front of the other, with shirts and jackets straining over their bosoms. Let's not forget their stylish feet, pushed into high heeled shoes that make you wonder why gravity isn't working. And, yes, a trendy designer bag slung over their shoulders. Are these women unemployed?  I think not.

Just the other day a vacancy for an administrative specialist became available in the office where I used to work. Human Resources were reluctant to hire someone outright; so a temp-to-perm position was are created.

An employment agency was contacted and they sent a temp. Her name was Angela. Angela was forty-seven years old and barely stood five feet tall. Angela lasted three weeks. She was there at 9:00 a.m. and at 10:00 she was gone.

Next in line was Nicole. Nicole was the complete opposite from Angela. Although she too was forty-seven years old, this woman was built like a wrestler. Arms that could stop a bus, legs like heavy load pillars. This no nonsense image was further enhanced by her daily tweed or knitted outfits, with skirts well below the knee, blouses buttoned up to the neck and sturdy lace-up shoes. Nicole lasted one week and then she too was gone.

I was in the Human Resources office when the manager, who needed the administrative specialist, came to make his wishes known.  "Get me someone young," he commanded.  "Someone, if not beautiful, then at least attractive." 

Apparently "attractive" means different things to different people. The manager's wish was apparently Human Resources command, because the following day we got word that Tinny was to start work the following Monday. Tinny? Eyebrows lifted and meaningful glances were exchanged. 

The moment Tinny walked in I knew she was going to be a keeper. She was in her early twenties; average height, average weight, and if my eyes didn't deceive me, a D-cup bra. If she was wearing a bra.  It was hard to tell as I didn't see the telltale signs of shoulder straps. I did see plenty of flesh though. Flesh spilling out of a shirt that was at least two sizes too small and more flesh when she sat down and crossed her elegant legs. Two months down the line Tinny was hired full time.

It's hard not to sound a little bitter as I look for my own temp-to-perm job.  No one has ever complained about the quality of my work, but at an advanced age I’m no longer a "Tinny" .

Age discrimination is alive and well, in Canada anyway. I don't know how physical appearance applies to male job hunters, but beautiful, well endowed, young females definitely have an advantage over those with - shall we say - less impressive fixed assets.

Charity vs. people

Anyone see this article in the Huffington Post? 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/warren-buffett-giving-pledge-new-members_n_1896882.html?utm_hp_ref=impact&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

While these businessmen probably have the right idea, it’s not a good idea.  For one, it’s a non-binding agreement, so who is to say that they actually give half of their wealth away?

Wouldn’t it be far better to encourage businessmen to expand their businesses and as such create jobs for those who need them?  That would give people money, not charities.

I don’t like charities.  Never have.  What do they do with the money they receive?  Do they put it to good use, or does it stick to a number of people’s fingers?

And why is some of the text written in pink?  Does that mean that part of that money will go to the Breast Cancer Society?  Gosh I hope not.  Just exactly how much money has been donated to the Breast Cancer Society?  Millions and millions, and women are still dying every day.  I say STOP DONATING, and a cure will be revealed.

Fortunately, I’m not the only one who thinks this way.  I’ve spoken to a number of people who wholeheartedly agree with me.  There is a cure, but it’s more profitable for the Cancer Society to keep people in the dark.  When a cure is revealed, donations will dry up.  Can’t let that happen.

As one person said … “Years of research and millions of dollars and they can’t even come up with a drug that doesn’t cause hair to fall out.”

And why always the Breast Cancer Society?  Why about other types of cancers?  Not good enough for publicity?

This charity giving should stop.  Why not give the money to ordinary people who need it?  People who, for one reason or another, don’t qualify for welfare and work “day and night” for pittance to support themselves.  They exist, I assure you, I know quite a few of them personally. 

Give money to those in need of medical help, but who have to do without because they don’t have benefits. 

When you start looking, you’ll see 101 opportunities that are all better than these damn charities.  I worked for both the Cancer Society and a Help the Children of Africa foundation and I know first-hand of mismanagement of funds. 

Let me put it this way, I wouldn’t give one penny to charity.  I am willing to give to an individual, but an organization … NEVER!

The royal family and … me

The royal family has taken some heat lately.  First Harry gets photographed naked, next Kate is caught topless by paparazzi.  People have something to say about both incidents and opinions fly left, right and center.  Others write about it, putting in their two cents.

Take this blog entry for instance that I received this morning.  I realize that everyone is entitled to an opinion, but this time the writer got it so wrong, on so many levels, that I had to respond.

She calls her blog entry “The ten common sense, simple rules of life”.  Sounds interesting, right?  Right, except that the writer is hopelessly misinformed or a little naive.  Let’s look at them one by one …

1.If you don't want to be photographed topless or naked while outside, or in your hotel room, keep your clothes on.  She obviously refers to Kate.  In my opinion Kate had every right to take her top off to get a tan.  She wasn’t in public, she was on holiday in a secluded hotel garden.  The photo was taken with a very strong lens, clearly her privacy.  I have a friend who regularly suns herself topless, to avoid ugly tan lines and nobody seems to care.  Of course, my friend isn’t royalty but both women have something in common … it’s their right to do as they please on private property.

2.If you want a job, then go get one.  This is where I took the blog post personal.  Is this really how the employed and the housewives see the situation?  “If you want a job, then go get one”!  I would like to point out that I have been trying to get a job for months.  I visit several job sites per day; I’ve sent resumes by the dozen, have registered with numerous employment agencies and have gone on several interviews.  Despite my best efforts, I’m as jobless today as I was months ago.  And of course, I’m not alone.  Countless others find themselves in exactly the same position.  Let me assure you blog writer, finding a job is a job and your statement is like spitting in the face of the unemployed.

3. If you don't want to be known as a Ho, then don't act like one.  And just exactly how does “a ho” act?  Does showing cleavage, wearing a short skirt and 3 inch heels make one a ho?  What do you suggest, that women dress like the Amish, with a skirt down to their ankles and a blouse buttoned up to the neck?  Or shall they wear a burka and cover up their entire female form. 

4. If you want to be your own boss, then start your own business.  Me and countless others would like nothing better than starting our own business.  Not only would I be my own boss, I would have a job.  There’s a snag though, I don’t have the financial resources to start my own business.  My guess is that lots of others share that notion.

5.Facebook is a colossal waste of time.  That’s a matter of opinion.  If you don’t like Facebook, don’t sign in.

6. Keep your shirt on.  The ladies who are fond of the male form will disagree with that one.

7. Never eat Italian food at a family restaurant.  I’m going to let this one slide.

8. Don't play golf when it is lightning outside.  I’ll let that one slide too.

9. Don't spit into the wind.  I would say “Don’t spit” period.  It’s one of the most disgusting and unhygienic practices ever.

10. Always cross with traffic.  I have no idea what this means.

While it’s fine to have an opinion, and to blog about it, it’s always a good idea to be sure you don’t have the cat by the tail.

Unemployment

I received a CNN message recently stating:

Economists say at least 150,000 jobs must be created each month simply to keep pace with the growing population.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 8.1% from 8.3%.

Even though this is American news, I think Canada feels much the same.  They talk about job creation and a decrease in unemployment.

Let’s tackle one issues at a time.

Just because the unemployment rate fell from 8.3% to 8.1% doesn’t mean that a number of unemployed people got jobs.  It means that a number of the unemployed lost their benefits. 

I don’t know how it is in the States, but here in Canada when an employee gets laid off, he or she is allocated a certain amount of weeks of unemployment benefits depending on the time he or she worked.  Obviously, the longer a person worked, the more weeks of unemployment he receives.  From what I hear, 42 weeks is the maximum.

Once the allocated weeks are up, the person loses his benefits, in many cases without warning.  Which is why it makes me bloody mad when the government issues proud statements that the unemployment has gone down, it hasn’t, some people are just cut off and left without income.

As for creating jobs ... I can’t quite picture how that works.  Are these jobs created out of thin air?  How does one exactly create a job?  And not just one job mind you, but 150,000 jobs a month.  Please, who do they think they’re fooling?

If an office can run its day to day business with 100 people, they’re not going to employ 110 people.  If a construction site can build a building with 30 people, they’re not going to hire an extra 5.  What are those extra hands going to do?  If extra help is needed, fine, extra people are hired, but businesses are not expanding at such a rate that 150,000 jobs a month can be created.

If anything, lay offs have increased and more and more people are looking for work.  As a temp, I’m feeling the pinch more than ever.

Companies used to call on temps to stand in for absent workers.  That service has decreased.  These days, when an employee is absent, sick or on vacation, his or her duties are divided among other employees.  They are cross trained and over for each other.  Bringing in temps is in many companies a thing of the past. 

It’s all good and well for a politician to stand on a podium and promise to create jobs, but I wonder how that actually works in reality.  Businesses probably think “We don’t need extra help”, while the unemployed shrug their shoulders, roll their eyes and think “Yeah, right”.

When did we become a bunch of penny pinchers?

Are you too getting just a little sick and tired of all the advice about how to save money?  “How to save money when grocery shopping” ... “How so save money on clothes” … “How to save money on electricity” … When did we all become such a bunch of penny pinchers?

Thank goodness for Christmas.  Apparently Americans responded to all those articles about how to spend less with a big fat “Stick it where the sun don’t shine” and let their dollars roll.  ComScore, a leader in measuring the spending habits of Americans, reported that a whopping $35.3 billion was spend online, marking a 15% increase to last year.

The writers of the “How to save on …” will probably tut tut about this figure.  I applaud it.  This kind of spending will generate a need for more merchandise, resulting in more jobs.  It’s a shame Christmas comes around only once a year.  With that kind of spending, our economy would be back on its feet in no time.

Unfortunately that is not the case and more and more jobs are lost on a daily basis.  Statistics tells us that the unemployment rate is down by 8,5%.  Baloney, the unemployment rate may be down, but it’s not because all those people found jobs. 

Undoubtedly some will have found employment, but I dare say that the rest of those 8,5% simply lost their unemployment benefits.  I should know, I’m one of them.

I received no warning that my allocated weeks were nearly up, I received no notice that I had nearly reached the end of the line.  My benefits were canceled from one day to another.

I suspect that a mistake was made, so I went to the unemployment offices, but was politely sent packing.  I tried contacting them by phone by got the message “Our call volume is high.  Please try again later.  Have a nice day.”

(To be continued)

First day on the job

After being unemployed for ten months and staying up until 3:00 a.m. each night, I was more than a little nervous about going to bed last night. I figured I would lay awake half the night.
The knowledge that my alarm would go off at 5:30 and I would have to get up with only a few hours of sleep, if any, make me even more nervous.

Yet this was not the case.

I preparation for my first early night, I had made myself a cup of extra strong chamomile tea (two teabags in one cup).
The results were satisfactory. By the time I went to bed, shortly after eleven, I was sort of tired and by some miracle I fell asleep within fifteen minutes.

When the alarm went off this morning, I felt fine. I didn’t exactly leap out of bed, but I didn’t crawl out either. It was all much better than expected.

My first day on the job was filled with new experiences. Lots of new people to meet and places to find. The set up of the offices is a true labyrinth, it’s gonna take weeks before I knew my way around.

Everything looks promising though. Good location, friendly people, nice work ... I think this will be alright.
The pay could be a bit better but okay, maybe I can do something about that in the future.

On a different note ... we went to see the bank manager today.
Remember the plans to sell our condo? Well, as it turns out we qualify for a mortgage and as such we’re no longer looking for a place to rent. Now we’re looking for a place to buy.

Stay tuned for updates.

TorontoJobs.ca workshop

A little cooler today. Only 29 deg C (84 deg F). Only ... hm, sounds funny. Well, I suppose compared to the 45 deg (113 deg) we had last week this is cool.

However, now I’m a little steamed up about another matter.

I received an email from TorontoJobs.ca in my inbox this morning to attend one of their workshops. I don’t know how they got hold of my email address, but apparently I’m invited. Price of the event ... $49.95

They should be ashamed of themselves. $49.95 to hear a bunch of blah, blah, blah on how to construct a resume, how to make use of employment agencies and how to network.

My guess is that those looking for a job know exactly how to construct their resume, make use of employment agencies and how to network, that’s not the problem, the problem is not enough jobs for too many job seekers.

From what I heard, an average of 500 applications are received for one job. At least 480 of those resumes are never read.

Do they really think out of work people are going to waste their money on such a workshop? Some will of course, some will do almost anything in the hope to snag a job. I wonder if they realize that government agencies run that very same course for free?