Kind of worried my husband lost his job yesterday.

[ssatterly]

Actually unemployment insurance is insurance that the employers pay for to insure they are hiring correctly and keeping people on jobs. You can be a millionaire and lose your job through layoff or downsizing and still be eligible for it. It is not something taxpayers are paying. Honestly my husband lost his job and was found to eligible for unemployment based on the basis of losing his job and not how much we had in savings, checking, etc. I think that is something people forget. You can also vacation in that time period as you just declare it that week and you don't collect.

You also don't have to take anything that comes along job wise. A person who was making 70k a year does not have to accept employment at a retail outlet for minimum wage.

Liz

I think that's what people do forget that unemployment is not a hand out its an insurance that we all pay into when we are working.

 

[Delirium]

Everyone seems to be offering opinions based on their own personal life experiences. Posters with certain types of jobs are horrified at the thought of sticking with the vacation while other posters with different job situations see nothing wrong with it.

There is so much we don't know.
- How much money does the OP make herself?
- Did her husband receive any sort of severance package?
- How likely is it he can land a comparable job after he returns from vacation (the Louisville job market is a pretty good one)?
- Is the OP committed to cutting costs elsewhere (movies, eating out, etc.)?

So, everyone needs to lay off the personal attacks and nefarious assumptions. You're basing your opinion on your own situation without having the facts for this one.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

So, we've wandered off topic here, being as the OP is herself employed and I doubt they'll be using the social safety net, but...

Are you seriously asking why people shouldn't use public assistance (designed to keep food on the table and a roof over your children's heads while you look for gainful employment) to go on a Disney vacation?

The way my mother brought me up, unemployment insurance exists to tide you over until you find a new job. It's not a paid vacation. And, beyond unemployment insurance, you should be using your own money to cover as many of your costs as you can before you turn to social assistance. Once on social assistance, you do everything in your power to get off and become a contributing member of society. Then, when you're financially secure enough, you pay it forward, in some way or the other, by doing some good for your town or country.

It's a social safety net, not a social feather bed.

I am not sure your mother knew how unemployment benefits were funded. But it's paid for by taxing your employer. And IMHO if they laid me off then they have to PAY! You don't have to prove need etc... (the tax rate is based on your history so... it's suppose to keep employers somewhat honest!)


I am sure this will send you over the edge.

I got laid off a couple of years ago. Yes, I filed for and received unemployment.

And then when I got a job I took a trip to Paris... while drawing unemployment

SORRY! But I feel no guilt!

The job before that one (that I quit when the new boss had an attitude issue) I did not get unemployment from (I quit, that's my fault not the companies) I had more then enough cash to last a few years so I did go on a scheduled trip to Disney. (I also got a job within two weeks and they hired me knowing I had another vacation scheduled a month after I started. GASP!)

I am sure that the "ethics and finance" police on the DIS are now horrified by my lifestyle

I wonder what happens when these "we won't hire if you have a vacation" employers find out you have earned vacation time and want to take it? do they fire you? LOL! I mean really, if you can't live without an employee for a week, you have a bigger issue then the fact that the person had a previously scheduled vacation. At some point they might miss a day, what will you do then? (And yes the jerk I walked out on told me that I should cancel my employee's vacations because "he was now in charge and all prior decisions were changed" He basically wanted me to fire my staff to bring in his buddies.. I walked. 6 months later he was fired and his boss told me "that was my worst hiring decision EVER")

 

[Planogirl]

I wonder what happens when these "we won't hire if you have a vacation" employers find out you have earned vacation time and want to take it? do they fire you? LOL! I mean really, if you can't live without an employee for a week, you have a bigger issue then the fact that the person had a previously scheduled vacation. At some point they might miss a day, what will you do then? (And yes the jerk I walked out on told me that I should cancel my employee's vacations because "he was now in charge and all prior decisions were changed" He basically wanted me to fire my staff to bring in his buddies.. I walked. 6 months later he was fired and his boss told me "that was my worst hiring decision EVER")

Apples and oranges IMO.

Often a company needs someone to hit the ground running when they hire. They can schedule vacation for people when the company is less busy or when other staff is present to cover the slack or whatever. That isn't necessarily in place when they apparently really need people.

I do agree that some companies are too strict though.

 

[Srbright]

I think it's very different between salaried workers and hourly workers. I work for a fortune 100 company and we've got great family friendly benefits. The PTO policies, however, are very different for exempt and non-exempt employees.

And not just PTO. I was on FMLA and LTD as an hourly associate. Being on LTD I obviously needed the medical ins. I found out that when I was promoted to salaried (same company) that things were MUCH different. As hourly I only received 65% of my pay and then had to pay all my health ins, even the part my employer had paid previously. I also ended up without pay for several weeks as there was a lull between STD and LTD. STD paid for 4 weeks but LTD didn't kick in until after you had been off for 8 weeks.

It burned my buttons to find that salaried associates had nothing like that. STD was 8 weeks and covered the time until LTD. But both were considered "salary continuation" and they got 100% of their salary. And the company continued to pay their portion of the health insurance.

Stacy

 

[ronandannette]

Apples and oranges IMO.

Often a company needs someone to hit the ground running when they hire. They can schedule vacation for people when the company is less busy or when other staff is present to cover the slack or whatever. That isn't necessarily in place when they apparently really need people.

I do agree that some companies are too strict though.

My DH works for the municipal government...the wages are high and the benefits are excellent but the employment conditions are completely non-negotiable as they are determined by union contract. Absolutely no vacation time for the first 12 months - period. (Emergency leave for specified reasons is a different matter but must be verified.) Everybody knows this going in; take the job or leave it.

 

[Kristine316]

My DH works for the municipal government...the wages are high and the benefits are excellent but the employment conditions are completely non-negotiable as they are determined by union contract. Absolutely no vacation time for the first 12 months - period. (Emergency leave for specified reasons is a different matter but must be verified.) Everybody knows this going in; take the job or leave it.

This sounds about right. My brother in law works in the aircraft industry and he is under a union contract.
Sure, they have strict guidelines to follow but, just like you said the pay is really high and the benefits are pretty decent. He told us what he made last year, and I was impressed... I think he would say that was a good trade off for not being able to take a Disney vacation in the first 6 months.
Considering he went to school for less than 2 years to get his Fed license and had only about 15,000 in student loan debt.. I would say he is doing pretty well for himself. Unlike my husband who went to school for literally 3 times longer, had mountains of loan debt and only made last year 23,000 more than his brother... I say his brother got the better end of that one.

I know some of you have amazing careers, high demand jobs, and work for companies that put you first.. that does sound pretty terrific but, it is just not reality for the average American worker.

 

[Kona65]

Why not?

TITOW

 

[minnie mum]

TITOW

gezundheit?

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

I am sorry to hear that. I truly hope he finds something quickly.

This is something you need to discuss with your husband. You guys need to do what is best for you. Honestly, if it is paid for, I would go. If you still need to pay for food, stick to a tight budget and forgo the souvenirs. You have to purchase food (not as expensive of course) at home anyway.

 

[ssatterly]

I am sorry to hear that. I truly hope he finds something quickly.

This is something you need to discuss with your husband. You guys need to do what is best for you. Honestly, if it is paid for, I would go. If you still need to pay for food, stick to a tight budget and forgo the souvenirs. You have to purchase food (not as expensive of course) at home anyway.

We have the free dinning plan

 

[pumpernickel]

OP, that is terrible to read. Hopefully he will find something quickly. I would go ahead and go because you have already paid for it.

 

[pumpernickel]

TITOW

IDKWYAPTSAS. YAOFTMAPOTD. IITBTTMWBY.

I am sure most would agree with those 3 sentences.

 

[ronandannette]

This sounds about right. My brother in law works in the aircraft industry and he is under a union contract.
Sure, they have strict guidelines to follow but, just like you said the pay is really high and the benefits are pretty decent. He told us what he made last year, and I was impressed... I think he would say that was a good trade off for not being able to take a Disney vacation in the first 6 months.
Considering he went to school for less than 2 years to get his Fed license and had only about 15,000 in student loan debt.. I would say he is doing pretty well for himself. Unlike my husband who went to school for literally 3 times longer, had mountains of loan debt and only made last year 23,000 more than his brother... I say his brother got the better end of that one.

I know some of you have amazing careers, high demand jobs, and work for companies that put you first.. that does sound pretty terrific but, it is just not reality for the average American worker.

Every employer sets their own policies, whether they are Fortune 500, public-sector or mom & pop shops. Nobody here can say with authority what the OP's situation will be when her DH finds a new job.

 

[TJBerry]

We have the free dinning plan

Even when on the free dining plan, you need to tip, so that is something to keep in mind. Eating won't be free.

 

[ssatterly]

Even when on the free dining plan, you need to tip, so that is something to keep in mind. Eating won't be free.

Eating is free...... I tip the servers not the food. So yes eating is free. Tipping is not.....

 

[Aliceacc]

IDKWYAPTSAS. YAOFTMAPOTD. IITBTTMWBY.

I am sure most would agree with those 3 sentences.

Perhaps I would... if I had any idea of the meaning behind them.

 

[TJBerry]

Eating is free...... I tip the servers not the food. So yes eating is free. Tipping is not.....

I consider tipping part of the meal, so eating won't be free, but you can spin it however you'd like.

Your definition of lots of things is different than mine.

 

[ssatterly]

I consider tipping part of the meal, so eating won't be free, but you can spin it however you'd like.

Your definition of lots of things is different than mine.

I do and will tip if the service is good. Which I don't doubt it will be.

 

[Magpie]

I am sure this will send you over the edge.

Sorry to disappoint, not much sends me "over the edge".

Your lifestyle is your choice. You're right, I shouldn't have lumped EI in with social assistance. But I believe my mum's greater point about fiscal responsibility still stands.