Study: 1 in 5 Laid Off During Recession (AP)

[DemBones DemBones]

This article deals with the findings of a newly-released survey, "The Disposable Worker: Living in a Job-Loss Economy." The study chose 1,015 working-age adults at random and found that one in five, or 18%, of them had been laid off during the 2000-2003 time period. The survey also revealed that two-thirds of the workers laid off received no severance pay or other compensation from their employer. Less than half received unemployment insurance.

(The article doesn't explain why less than half of those laid off received unemployment insurance. Surely the rules still say that anyone who's laid off is entitled to benefits? )


Quotes:

"There's neither private sector nor government support that's going to most people," said Carl Van Horn, director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, which conducted the study.


Barely one-fourth of those surveyed said their employer extended their health benefits after they were laid off, and less than one-fifth said they received help finding a job, career counseling or skills training.


Despite the National Bureau of Economic Research's July 17 proclamation that the recession ended in November 2001 — because gross domestic product began rising then — Van Horn says he and plenty of other economists disagree.


"There are still a lot of people unemployed," he said. "If you're a typical person and not an economist, you don't really care about the GDP."

more . . .

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030728/ap_on_bi_ge/displaced_workers

[tedoll78]

1. I'm getting laid-off next week.

The day is August 5th for me. I'm eligible for unemployment benefits here in Texas, and I've already done the math on my best quarter out of the last five.. about $1100 will come in the mail every month. It's enough to cover me for six months, but it's nothing like having a job..

[classics]

2. Poor people dont really get 'laid off'

That would mean they could collect unemployment insurance.

Generally the lowest paid workers are just fired. They just make up a reason, any reason will do.

[union_maid]

3. Could be freelance or other temps

If they're independent contractors they might not be eligible.

So, which candidate does everyone think is a addressing this most effectively, if anyone is? This problem might let up a bit here and there, but I don't think it's going away until we have a real plan to deal with 21st century economic realities.

[Gman]

4. 20%

That's 20% of everyone polled. That is huge.

[yowzayowzayowza]

5. Laid off w/o unemployment insurance...

simple. Ya just find some technicality to fire them on. My wife was dumped two weeks ago after requiring professional medical attention at work. She failed to block off the hour and a half spent with a needle in her arm. They got her for "theft of time"... the kicker... Her employer was the hospital that put the needle in her arm. BASTARDS.