How dedicated am I to my craft? This dedicated: with the conflict between the governor and the Employment Security Commission being a burning issue in our state, I went and got myself laid off so I could go undercover and find out how the unemployment system in this state really works. I'm a regular Alec Leamas or something. That's my story anyway.
I learned an awful lot about it today — so much that I'm too tired now to sort through it all; I'd be writing all night. But it will produce a lot of fodder for the blog in the coming days, I expect. For tonight, I'll just pass on this tidbit…
The State invited representatives from various agencies who provide unemployment services — Employment Security, Commerce, and another program that I need to go back and clarify under which umbrella it falls — out to the paper to get the 38 folks laid off started on filing for help in finding a job, retraining, and getting those checks the ESC processes if you don't find a job right away. (And believe me, those checks are so small that you don't want to be unemployed and dependent upon them for five seconds more than absolutely necessary; they're a tremendous motivation to find a job.)
I spent about three hours with these various folks, and took copious notes. And I want to say that they were all very helpful and knowledgeable and professional and encouraging, which really helped me learn a lot for only three hours spent.
But you should get a chuckle out of this part: Someone was explaining to us about WorkKeys. Do you know about those? Basically, you take a battery of aptitude tests, and you get scores on a range of skills, and employers tell the gummint they want X number of workers who have scored at least a 4 in each category, or whatever, and you get matched up.
The gummint administers the test for free, and will even help you get training to get a higher score where you're lacking. You get certified, I think he said, with a rating of Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. (There aren't many platinums, he said.)
But here's the best part. He said, "You also get a certificate, signed by the governor, saying that you are work-ready."
Now see, if I'd known this yesterday when the governor called me, I could have saved myself the time it will take to take those tests. I could have pointed out that if anybody knows what I am capable of, it's the governor. He probably would have whipped me out a certificate of work-readiness on the spot. So I guess I missed my chance.
Related Posts
If you had worked in North Carolina and been laid off, you would be able to collect twice as much each week as you can from South Carolina. Yet the SC unemployment fund is broke. That is the first clue that the system here is mismanaged.
Will you have to report to the ESC, weekly, on your efforts to find a job? I know it used to be that way, but I do not know if that is still the case.
Also, has the time on unemployment been extened? How many weeks can one stay on it?
Don’t take your experiment too far. The folks “under the bridge” are not as nice as the government employees at ESC!
Wait a dang minute. You’ve been with The State forever and a day, and all McClatchy is offering a VP on his way out is a how-to session on unemployment?
You’re getting no parachute at all?
Here’s hoping, as long as it doesn’t affect you, that the economy flushes McClatchy into the sewer.
PM, I was wondering the same thing. Brad did you not get a severance package of any kind? How cold.
Of course Brad got some kind of severance. He’s just trying to bilk the system. Doesn’t surprise me at all.
Brad, since this seems to be your medium of choice, I just wanted to tell you I have always enjoyed reading your editorials and appreciate your putting your thoughts on this blog. I’m very sorry about the layoffs at the State. You have always done a fine job from my perspective.
Thanks, Judy.
Severance is considered separate, but it also takes a while to process.
How long one can stay on unemployment goes sort of like this: It’s up to 26 weeks, with up to two extensions that can provide a total of 20 weeks (under new stuff from Washington).
But God help anybody who has to depend upon it for any length of time at all. We’re talking a MAXIMUM of $326 a week. And forget about thinking of that as a base while you go flip burgers or something to supplement it while you look for something better. Whatever you earn at part-time work (and of course, once you get FULL time, the benefit ends) is deducted from the benefit. In other words, if you make $116 flipping burgers, you only get $210 in unemployment.
So we have a good-news, bad-news thing. Good news, the fact that having severance in your future doesn’t keep you from getting the check. Bad news, the fact that there’s no chance to supplement the check by making a few bucks here and there while you’re job hunting.
Actually $326 doesn’t sound too awful. I’m sure it’s a huge pay cut for a professional but there are many folks that never make that much money in a week. A $7/hour job for 40 hours falls short of that.
Lee’s only concern about unemployment benefits was the mismanagement?!?! Isn’t this system SOCIALISM at it’s core Lee?
Brad, Rich has WorkKeys on the computers out there at his school. I used them with my students but don’t recall that they received any sheepskin from the Gov.
bud’s right, that $326 or anything close to it may prevent a person from moving to a tent city. The system is designed to help people survive at the most primal level and not to help maintain previous life style. I was on it for a few weeks and it saved me – big government actually worked, go figure.
its
This is true Bud, but I noticed he said “maximum” of $326. I’m guessing they base it off a percentage of your actual weekly wages. Don’t quote me on that, but I doubt they would be giving you more than you were previously making.
Brad, what about a move into eduation? Through PACE (alternative certification for education), you could be teaching high school by September. You could pursue independent blogging or write on the side.
There are likely high schools that need a newspaper advisor – even a parttime advisor. You could teach kids how to bash Sanford and express outrage at public smokers (although many of them will be smokers).
Lee worked as a hall monitor at some school so he has some pull…
Hmmm… Brad as a teacher in a public school? I bet Richland One would find an opening for him.
Wonder how he would respond to the first kid who told him to shove it? Probably would happen on the first day and Brad would then get the lecture about how he needs to treat students like customers and provide a nurturing environment for them.
Obligatory anecdote – my daughter came home from high school yesterday and said one girl refused to stand for the pledge (no recitation required). Even after the teacher spoke of his years in the military defending the country… I believe the response was “I ain’t pledging to nobody”.
Tell me it ain’t so! I go out of town a few days and come back to find you’ve been cut. (There is no good way to say it) The State was already getting ‘skinny’,now in more ways than before. You know its times like this that makes you wonder if the paper is worth continuing. Hang in there. Thoughts & Prayers to you and your family.
I’m sorry about your loss, Brad.
As far as the paper is concerned, I was a happy customer getting delivery 7 days a week, until they endorsed for Obama during the Democratic race. I called and canceled and told them why. Maybe I wasn’t the only customer who didn’t like their choice.
Doug, more like gratuitous examples of student misdeeds from a small proportion of the student population. Certainly there are problems in education and it’s not a piece of cake. Worthwhile endeavors normally are not easy.
Brad,
So sorry to hear about the layoff for you and the rest of the folks there. It’s a tough time for newspapers. We are feeling out here in Texas too.
Having been through the unemployment process a number of years ago I know it is difficult. Life is full of uncertainties and going through something like this teaches you to cling to the really important things of life.
Frankly I think you would be a wonderful social studies or history teacher. Think about the impact you would have. May not be seemingly as influential as The State but far more important.
Miss working with you.
Jim
Brad,
So sorry to hear about the layoff for you and the rest of the folks there. It’s a tough time for newspapers. We are feeling out here in Texas too.
Having been through the unemployment process a number of years ago I know it is difficult. Life is full of uncertainties and going through something like this teaches you to cling to the really important things of life.
Frankly I think you would be a wonderful social studies or history teacher. Think about the impact you would have. May not be seemingly as influential as The State but far more important.
Miss working with you.
Jim
First David Stanton and now Brad Warthen. Who could be next? Mayor Bob? Seriously, you will be missed. I appreciate your personal sharing and openness and always looked forward to your comments but doubt I will be paying any attention to any editorializing from The State in the future unless I learn something about the folks producing it.
So, in the past you’ve directly laid-off or put people up for layoff and had no idea of the future they were facing? I’m glad that you’re finding out now.
Try taking the advice I’m sure you dispensed to those you laid-off: Quit feeling sorry for yourself and get your ass in gear.
I believe Brad has shown that he is in gear.
Brad, think about it. As a teacher you can mold the minds of hundreds of budding Un-Party believers! You can espouse the unethical tactics of McCan’s lipstick on a pig and champion pre-emptive war regardless of needless evidence for cause. (I thought I’d tangle with Brad one last time.)
I agree with many of you in saying that Brad would make an excellent teacher. Unfortunately, they’re laying off teachers, too. Brad, whatever lies immediately in the future, I think you have the skills, brain, and heart to triumph. I just hope you’ll find a way to continue sharing your thoughts with us.
Randy, you are so ignorant.
Unemployment INSURANCE is paid by the employer on each employee. The more claims he has for layoffs, the higher his insurance premiums.
Yes, it could be run entirely privately, and probably would be a lot more efficient and pay better benefits than our government-operated system.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Ruth
http://laptopmessengerbag.info
Destroy the unemployment so that people survive the life