And You’re Gonna Die Sooner Too!

A while back, I read this article in Newsweek about the plight of the unemployed: http://www.newsweek.com/2010/02/04/lay-off-the-layoffs.html.

It outlined two major points: Layoffs rarely make a company profitable and the harm layoffs do to the individual thrown out of a job. Specifically, the article states:

“As bad as the effects of layoffs are on companies and the economy, perhaps the biggest damage is done to the people themselves. Here the consequences are, not surprisingly, devastating. Layoffs literally kill people. In the United States, when you lose your job, you lose your health insurance, unless you can afford to temporarily maintain it under the pricey COBRA provisions. Studies consistently show a connection between not having health insurance and individual mortality rates. Other data demonstrate that even fairly brief interruptions in health-care coverage lead people to skip diagnostic screening tests such as mammograms and colonoscopies.”

Therefore, my jobless brethren, be prepared to kick the bucket sooner. Could it get any worse? Sorry to be depressing, but these are the facts.

It stands to reason that a layoff would have a devastating impact on a person’s health. There’s the constant stress of wondering if can pay your bills, not to mention health care expenses. It’s easy to postpone—or forgo altogether—routine tests and doctor visits that could detect a serious illness in an early, treatable form if you cannot afford health insurance, or if you have health insurance through COBRA, the high copay.

This is really shortsighted on the part of our health care and social welfare system. Because if an unemployed person gets sick, he or she will inevitably go to a charity hospital for care, which places a burden on another safety net. We really do need an affordable, national health care program.

But for now, I won’t debate the need for a better national health care system. But I will say this to unemployed persons in this month of New Year’s Resolutions:

STAY HEALTHY!

Do not neglect your health. I would argue that now is the time to take the best care of yourself. Eat right, exercise and try to limit stress. Just because some idiotic boss took away your job doesn’t mean he can take away your well being.

Sounds difficult to stay healthy while unemployed? It won’t be easy but it can be done.

While it’s understandable to cancel your pricey gym membership after a layoff, stopping your exercise program is not. Put on a comfortable pair of shoes and walk for a half hour each day. It’s free and will keep you in shape. You can lose seven pounds in a year just by walking briskly each day.

Try to avoid the temptation of junk food. You can buy fruits and veggies just as economically. With the economy in the shape it’s in, grocery stores are locked in a price war with discounters like Target. That’s to our benefit.

Many hospitals and clinics offer free mammograms and other screening tests. Take advantage of them.

Avoiding those routine tests does not mean the illness will go away. I know of what I speak: When my mother was ill, I didn’t go for routine exams and it came back to haunt me later. Looking back in hindsight, it was the most foolish thing I did. I could have taken an hour to visit the doctor but I didn’t. Stupid me.

Many states have programs for uninsured residents. Look into that.

Unemployed people may also avoid going to the dentist. Again, this is a big mistake. To be blunt, do you really want to go on a job interview with rotten teeth? Many universities have free or low-cost dental clinics where dentistry students can practice. Local community colleges that offer dental hygienist programs do the same if you only need a teeth cleaning.

If the stress of being out of work is overwhelming, find a support group you can join for free.

I’m not saying you should run to the doctor’s office for every sniffle. Be selective in your health care expenses. You may have to tough out a bad cold or strained muscle.

For something more serious, ask a relative or friend for the money if you need to see the doctor. While I don’t advocate borrowing, this is the one time when they would understand and help you out.

They want to see you alive, healthy and unemployed, not sick—or worse—and unemployed.

New Year, New Beginning?

So 2010 is over, and many are glad to say good riddance to it.

For the unemployed, it’s been a tough year, one with many frustrations and unhappiness. As we look toward 2011, we see a murky horizon.

Don’t get me wrong. Unemployed workers like myself want to be optimistic, we truly do. But after being jobless for a year or more, it’s hard to muster much enthusiasm or hope for a new job in the New Year.

Will this be the year employers expand and hire more workers? Will HR people finally realize that laid-off employees were the victims of a poor economy, bad management decisions and didn’t lose their jobs because of some fault on their part?

I used to be one of those people who actually wrote down New Year Resolutions, things like, lose weight, find a new apartment, and yes, even get a new job (too bad I didn’t do that sooner, it would have saved me a lot of heartache).

Alas, 12 months would pass and none of those resolutions came to fruition. But why do we only think about making changes on New Year’s Day? We can make changes in our lives anytime.

Yes, I would love to get a job in 2011, one where I can use my writing and reporting abilities while learning new skills. A job where my bosses and co-workers will treat me with respect and not denigrate my work. (Of course, I will be respectful to them in kind.)

Yet so much depends on the economy and the whims of those doing the hiring. I also cannot dismiss the possibility that my career in journalism and publishing may be over if I cannot get hired within the year. Sometimes I think I have a better chance of dating Mark Sanchez than ever getting a job again!

I don’t know what career path I will take if that comes to pass, but I do know I will keep writing in some capacity.

But let’s get back to 2010. I know it’s year so many would rather forget, but I don’t think it should be dismissed so quickly. Even in harsh times, you can learn much about yourself. I know I did.

I learned I can pay my rents and my bills on a paltry weekly unemployment check and some occasional freelance assignments. Never once did I get a call from a creditor. Of that I am proud. Now if I still don’t have a job next year...

I learned I don’t need to buy clothes every week at Macy’s. Both Macy’s and I will survive if I don’t.

I learned I can make it through a year of joblessness, a major health scare and intensive physical therapy with my sense of humor and sanity (mostly) intact.

I learned that even though my former employers thought my talents were no longer needed, other people, like the website I freelance for, did. Seeing my byline published after I got laid off did wonders for my self-confidence.

I learned I can live on less and do without and that’s a good thing.

I learned that even though I got depressed at times, I still managed to go on job interviews and write freelance articles.

I learned to whine less about my jobless situation and be a sympathetic friend. This experience has definitely made me a more empathetic person. No one wants to be around a person who talks ceaselessly only about him or herself or his or her problems.

I’ve learned that I can live with disappointment and still not give up.

I learned to job hunt in a digital age. No small feat for a technophobe like me.

I started this blog and even though I haven’t gotten many comments, the ones I have gotten have been encouraging. It’s good to know we are not alone. I’m glad I’m expressing feelings that others in the same situation can relate to with a little humor and advice. This blog was never meant to be about just me, but all of us in unemployment land. I want to know about your experiences trying to find a job in a recession.

Looking back, could I have done things better? Sure. I wish I had handled my exit interview in a more professional manner. I become too upset when I just should have left the building without saying anything. Nothing then or now would have changed their decision and I just have to accept that.

New Year’s Day is time for making bold predictions and resolutions, but I’m not sure I will do that this year. Okay, I see the Jets in the Super Bowl and the Mets having a winning season. How’s that for bold predictions?

John Lennon said it best: “Life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.” Did any of us think at the beginning of 2008, 2009 or 2010 that “This is the year I’m going to get laid off”?

We do not know what the next 12 months will bring, let alone the next hour. And that’s not a bad thing. Sure, unfortunate events can befall us, but unexpected joy can also come our way. We have to be prepared for both.

Better to take each day as it comes, make the best of it and seize any opportunity that is presented to us both personally and professionally.

So I’m keeping it simple this year. I definitely will ramp up my job hunt with more networking and possibly attend job fairs. I will also look into a new career path if that is what I need to do. I’ll go to my local job training center and try to get more freelance assignments.

Oh, yeah, I’ll try to lose weight and clean out my email inbox more often.

Am I worried? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry about my finances and health insurance if I don’t get a job. All I can do is keep looking for a job or find a way to rebuild my career and life. When my COBRA benefits expire, and I still have no job, I must find a way to pay for my health care, and I will. I cannot let those fears overtake me.

Most of all, I’m grateful for the support of friends and family during this past year. They’ve been understanding of my occasional moodiness and have offered invaluable advice. They are golden and are to be treasured. Because, sadly, there are some people out there who have no sympathy and are just as happy to see you fail.

So I say that those of us who got through 2010 should be proud.

I raise a glass of Prosecco to you. Here’s to a great year in 2011 for us all!

Damned if You Do…

Being unemployed can be quite confusing and stressful.

To collect our unemployment checks, we are expected to look for work, but not actually do work. This leaves us between a rock and a hard place.

During my jobless stretch, I’ve done some freelance writing. As long as I deduct the days I’ve worked from my weekly claim, I can collect unemployment checks.

However, something came up last week that could put my unemployment benefits in jeopardy. Since I’ve been out of work for over a year, I had to resubmit my claim.

Applying over the phone for unemployment benefits is always confusing, but I also spoke to a New York State Department of Labor employee. I admitted I have done some freelance work in the past year. The state probably has the 1099 tax form on file, so it would know about it anyway.

The gentleman said he had to send a letter to the company I freelance for on an occasional basis to make sure I was not a full-time staffer or a contractor.

But now I’m worried. Can the state cut off my jobless benefits because I do some occasional freelance writing, which, really, doesn’t pay much?

No one can live on unemployment checks alone. We need some extra cash. But I cannot live on freelance gigs either. In one year, I’ve made less than $3,000.

Plus, HR officers—the people who seemingly control our lives—don’t like to see “gaps” in our employment history. (You would think the fact we were laid off during the worst recession since the Great Depression would explain those gaps, but they don’t seem to comprehend that reality.)

Therefore, I’ve been freelancing to keep up my skills and show some current writing samples.

Yet if the state threatens to stop my unemployment benefits, I’ll have to stop freelancing and how will I explain the “gap” between jobs? I’ll appear to be what most HR people think unemployed people are: lazy bums who don’t want to work.

Believe me, nothing would make me happier than to get a full-time job and get off unemployment. Who needs this agita?

It’s quite a Catch 22. Damned if you do work, damned if you don’t.

My sister was in the same situation. She had to reapply for her benefits in Pennsylvania, but she also works part-time. Because she is a full-time student and needs to work 500 hours in the food service industry for her culinary arts degree, she can still collect unemployment.

Now I have to sweat out a determination by the State of New York Labor Department that could cut off my unemployment benefits with no job offer in sight.

Have any of you out there in unemployed land been confronted by the same situation? What happened? What should I do?

A Change of Clothes

So how exactly are unemployed people supposed to dress?

I know the common perception among the employed and HR circles are that we laze around all day in our pajamas. In my case, I can say that is definitely not so.

Each jobless person has to settle on his or her own daily wardrobe. I bought several pairs of stretchy yoga pants. They were cheap, are comfortable to wear and can be worn outside the house when going to the store or running an errand. Imagine going to the post office in pajamas pants? I don’t think so. Having those yoga pants also came in handy when I went to physical therapy. Leg lengths vary from full (for fall/winter) to capri (for spring/summer). Pair ’em with a t-shirt or hoodie and you’re good to go.

Another good choice is a velour tracksuit. I have two. So much more polished than a ratty old sweatsuit, don’t ya think?

I also believe that the nicer you dress—even casually while unemployed—the better you feel about yourself.

When I do go out, I sometimes see women dressed in work clothes and high heels. I feel a little jealous. Again, a reminder of my jobless status.

Of course, I do dress up for interviews. It’s sometimes nice to wear a professional outfit. Although I must admit, the high heels kill my feet. Guess I’ve gotten accustomed to wearing comfortable shoes.

I’m not one for fancy party clothes, but I did manage to put together a respectable work wardrobe that is now gathering dust in my closet.

Someday I hope to wear those clothes again.

Bah Humbug,Part II

Since this is my second Christmas without a job, I figured I’d impart some advice to the unemployed during the season of overspending.

First, do not suspend your job search. Keep searching. True, companies may wait to fill positions until after the holidays, but that’s no reason not to get your resume in front of those doing the hiring. You may face less competition from those who have decided to wait until January to apply for jobs. Just today I went on a job interview.

Yes, the holidays can be stressful even under the best of circumstances. There is so much pressure to find the perfect gift and have the perfect family gathering. Add to that the anxiety of trying to find a way to buy gifts without a steady paycheck, and it’s Bah Humbug time indeed.

But you can get through the holidays (without resorting to too much alcohol) and even buy gifts for friends and family. Here’s how:

Use Your Points. I’ve mentioned this before (“The Point System”), but it bears repeating. Use the points you’ve amassed on your credit cards to get gift cards. I got $120 worth of gift cards by redeeming my points. You can get gift cards for department stores and restaurants. There is sure to be something a family member or friend will like.

Make a List…and Cut it Twice. It’s sad but inevitable, but some people will have to be left off your list this year. But the good news is you won’t have to buy gifts for former backstabbing co-workers or duplicitous bosses.

Set a Limit. In my case, I spent more on my immediate family. But for all others, I set a limit of $5 on each gift.

Wait Till Next Year. After the holidays, buy half-price Christmas cards or ornaments. If by some miracle you have a job next year, you will have saved some money on those items.

Should You Re-Gift? HELL YES! Just make sure you are not passing on something that is obvious crap. (Jars of jelly? Really?) If it’s something you think another person will enjoy or can use, why not?

If You Can’t, Don’t. Look, your family and friends know your situation and will understand if you don’t get them a gift this year. In this season of spend, spend, spend, it’s easy to forget that we give gifts because we want to, not because we’re obligated to. As much as we would like to buy everyone a great present, sometimes we simply cannot. This is one of those times.

And buying fewer presents means less time in the stores and having to listen to those irritating Christmas jingles.

So, try to enjoy the holidays as best you can. Spend time with family and friends and remember the holidays aren’t about the presents or even goodwill toward men.

The holidays are about one thing only: THE FOOD!

Read This Article!

Never has an article better summed up the plight of the unemployed in 2010: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Unemployed-and-Likely-to-Stay-nytimes-4054267660.html?x=0&.v=1

It’s all there: the growing numbers of long-term unemployed; the frustration job seekers face; and how that frustration can become despair and hopelessness.

My only quibble with the article is that it repeats the misconception that unemployed people were laid off because of poor performance. I don’t know how we can fight against that perception. (However, there is a quote from a business owner that refutes that assertion. Good for him.)

I concede there may be some workers that were terminated because they were not doing a competent job. But not as many as people think. The vast majority of jobless lost their positions due to a poor economy, falling company revenues and the misfortune of not having their lips attached to their supervisors’ posteriors. Or they were in a profession—such as journalism—that is in a period of massive change or decline.

It’s like we are being stigmatized for being out of work, when, in reality, it’s the companies that should be stigmatized for doing so poorly that they had to let a great number of good workers go.

Yes, I understand that HR people don’t like to see “gaps” in a person’s employment history. But certainly they read the papers and understand the shape the economy is in these days. How can they hold it against us for being laid off and having difficulty finding work? After all, they are the ones who don’t want to hire us.

That being said, I’ve made sure to do some freelance work to at least keep my writing skills and bylines current.

While we struggle to make ends meet on our measly unemployment benefits, our former bosses get big bonuses and kudos from Wall Street analysts because profits are up. Did it ever occur to these dolts that corporate profits are up simply because they laid off so many workers? It’s sure not due to any innovative revenue enhancers they may have devised. From what I’ve seen after working in the corporate world, bosses are not that smart.

We did nothing wrong. We went to college, got advanced degrees, worked hard and paid our taxes. Now, we are treated like lepers.

The article makes a good point about the U.S. becoming like Europe, where countries have become accustomed to a large underclass of unemployed citizens. If that’s the case, then this country better be ready to pay the high taxes citizens in those countries pay.

So what’s the solution? Extending unemployment benefits is a start, although perhaps benefits should be cut off after a maximum of 99 weeks. But my opinion on that issue may change.

How about more dollars for career training at local community colleges? Give every unemployed person a voucher worth a maximum of two years of training at the community college level, in whatever field they choose.

My sister is going to her local community college to become a chef. She took out a loan to pay her tuition, but why not make it free? In the short term, the cost may be great. Longer term, the country will reap the benefits of having more people actually employed.

Once my sister is done, she will get a job in food service and become a productive, tax-paying citizen again.

I’m not sure the same can be said of her sister.

Bad Anniversary

One year ago today, I was laid off from my job. Not an anniversary I ever wished to commemorate, but the day has come.

December 3 was the day I was told to pack up my desk and leave after toiling for more than 16 years with the same company. December 7 is the day I officially began my unemployment. Talk about a day that will live in infamy!

Did I ever think I would still be unemployed for a year? Given the ongoing recession and the difficulty of getting hired in the publishing industry, no, I can’t say I’m surprised. Saddened, but not surprised.

I’m sure not alone. Just the other day I went to a family gathering, and nearly everyone I talked to spoke of a friend or neighbor who had been laid off from his or her job after decades of employment at a company.

I’ve lived during periods of recession before this, but I was employed. I would only read about massive layoffs and not think much of it. How could I have been so uncaring? I wasn’t smug (as some I encounter now are). It just didn’t touch me personally, so it wasn’t something on the top of my mind. Never again will I be so cavalier. After having been through a layoff, I have only empathy for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

In this past year, I’ve experienced myriad emotions: anger, frustration, unhappiness, insecurity, self-doubt, disappointment, fear, sadness, rejection, dejection, overwhelmed, hurt, depression, confusion, anxiety, shame, resentment, embarrassment, boredom, sadness, loneliness and, yes, I hate to admit, self-pity (not good, I know). So many emotions…and way too much time to think about them.

I sometimes want to cry. But I don’t, because I know if I start, the tears will never stop. I don’t sleep well and the circles under my eyes have gotten darker. I get upset over silly things that I know are unimportant. I’m more irritable: Were there so many bad drivers out there before I got laid off? And don’t get me started on the sound of Christmas carols!

I suppose that is all part of what a person goes through when he or she loses a job.

It hits me hardest in the morning, just after I open my eyes to the grainy gray light of pre-dawn. I start asking myself questions that I will never get an answer to: Why was I let go while others stayed? Was I a bad employee? Will I ever find a job again? What will I do when my unemployment runs out and I still have no job? How long will my savings last? What will happen when my COBRA benefits expire and I still have no job? How can I ever pay for health insurance on my own?

Over and over in my mind I think about all the mistakes I made—big and small—and wonder if that was why I was terminated. Could I have done anything differently that would have saved me from the ax?

But I know that it is torture to think that way. I will never know why I was let go. All I know is that I have to deal with the situation as it is, no matter how painful.

What’s most destructive about unemployment is what it does to a person’s sense of self worth. One day, I was, or thought I was, a competent professional woman, commuting to the city, and supporting herself. But within a dizzying short period of time, I become an unemployed loser that no one wants to hire. It’s amazing how swiftly one’s fortunes can change.

I took pride in my ability to do my job competently. Although I don’t have a family of my own, I was always proud of the fact that could support myself as a single woman. Not anymore. Those feelings of assurance in my skill to do a job and status in life are gone, possibly forever.

I remember how my bosses began to treat me differently about two months before I was laid off. It was so sudden it was truly shocking. I didn’t know what to do. I knew I couldn’t find another job quickly. But I also knew if I slacked off my situation would be made even worse. And I thought that maybe, just maybe if I kept doing a good job in the face of their nastiness, I wouldn’t be let go. What an idiot I was to think that! Nothing would have saved me.

I don’t know if I will ever feel secure in my professional abilities again. At the very least, it’s going to take quite a while to restore my self-confidence. As much as I hope to get a job, I can’t help but wonder if I will succeed at a new position. Will I fail or get callously laid off at the first hint of a revenue shortfall?

Yes, I admit I’m bitter. Get used to it. People tell me I shouldn’t feel that way and that I should just get over it and move on. That I’ll never get another job unless I stop being negative. Well, that’s easier said than done. I am trying, really, but a big part of “getting over it” would be to get a job and that hasn’t materialized yet.

“Oh, you’ll find something” is a common comment from my employed friends. But after a year of looking and dimming hopes of ever getting a job, it’s becoming harder and harder to believe that.

And did you ever notice the people who tell you such things are employed? Unless you’ve been laid off, you can’t understand how someone who has been does feel and what that individual has been through, the rejection and isolation we’ve experienced firsthand.

I recently spoke to former colleague who, like me, was laid off from the company I used to work for after a decade. He is doing fine, getting a lot of freelance work. (He is also semi-retired and gets Social Security payments. I’m not in that position.) But he said that while he is over what happened to him, he still sometimes wonders why he was laid off in such a cruel manner. The sting of a layoff stays with a person for a long, long time, maybe forever.

When I first laid off, I had three goals: freelance (which I have done, albeit even getting a freelance gig is tough); try to get a job in publishing/journalism; and if that didn’t work out, I would look into another profession altogether.

Since I didn’t get my first call for a job interview until six months after I was laid off, I really didn’t have a solid idea of whether I could be employed in publishing or journalism. Since June, I’ve gone on a number of interviews that, while they have yet to yield a job offer, have given me valuable insight into what positions I would be considered qualified to fill. After all, if I’m called in to speak to the HR person or supervisor, they must see something in my resume that piqued their interest, right?

To be fair, there have been a few encouraging signs. Two acquaintances recently got hired after long periods of unemployment. Maybe the job market is loosening up a bit. One can only hope. But one can live on hope for only so long. The longer I stay unemployed, the more difficult it will be for me to get hired again. (More on that later.)

And I don’t feel jealous when I heard of someone else’s success or good fortune in getting in a job. Just wistful for something I thought I once had.

Despite what some may think, unemployed people really do try hard to find a job. In the past year, I’ve sent out an average of two resumes a day. Sometimes more. I’ve reached out to contacts (which yielded me my freelance gig, but not much else). I follow up aggressively on any job lead (without being a stalker). I even paid $300 to get my resume professionally written. Considering the rejection I’ve experienced and how badly I was treated at my previous job, I’ve been admirably persistent. I haven’t given up. Not sure I can say the same a year from now if I still don’t have a job.

And please, let’s debunk the myth that unemployed people are somehow to blame for their predicament. What is most frustrating is the lack of control we had over our job loss. Our fates were decided behind closed doors by the whims of those above us who were more concerned with saving themselves and their cronies. We had no say in the matter, yet we must deal with the consequences of falling revenues and a bad economy.

More and more I’m getting the feeling companies in my field want someone younger for the lowest possible salary. Rather than an experienced journalist and editor, they want a tech whiz who can code copy and simply aggregate content from other sources. Or they want to hire only those who have gone to an Ivy League university. It’s hard not to get discouraged.

Yet we must stay positive! Follow our dreams! (Please note sarcasm in those comments.)

I’ve avoided talking too much about my feelings with family and friends. Except for one minor tiff with my sister, I’ve been restrained in my whining. Besides, people don’t want to hear about your problems; they only want to talk about theirs. Why bother?

So I put on a brave face and don’t talk much about my jobless plight. I keep my true feelings to myself and my blog, where if someone is reading this, he or she can simply go to another web page. And I’m not so self-absorbed that I believe my problems trump everyone else’s. Even when going through a time of personal turmoil, it’s good for the soul to lend an ear to someone else’s troubles.

Mostly, it’s sad to think a career I’ve spend more than 20 years building could now be over because I’ve reached what is deemed by some corporate bean counter a too-high salary level. Or because I don’t know some computer program that I could easily learn if trained properly.

I can’t say I’m optimistic, but I’m not pessimistic either. Realistic is more like it. Getting job interviews is a double-edged sword. It’s great to be called in and it’s hard not to get your hopes up and think, Wow, I could really work for this company. But those hopes are soon dashed when you wait weeks and hear nothing, or get the “we’ve decided to pursue other candidates” email.

I’ve even done some Internet research into who was picked over me. In several instances, I have to admit the person had more of the specialized expertise or background the company was looking for that I lacked. Other times it’s obvious they went with the cheaper candidate (although I’m willing to take a pay cut). But I can say with assurance that I could have done every job (except for one) I interviewed for. Now if I can only get someone to believe that!

Now it may be time to think of another professional avenue. What that is, I cannot say at this time. Perhaps my next step is to the local job center to see what training is available for me.

I have not given into hopelessness and despair. Yet.

It’s been a tough year, what with a job loss, health scare and continual professional rejection.

Here’s hoping for a better 2011 for all of us looking for merely the chance to work.

But when this is all over and I have a job (I hope!), I’m still gonna want to smack my former bosses in the face for putting me through this terrible time.