I'm Promoting Welfare! Let's "Dispel the Myth".

I’ve decided to try to remove the stigma of welfare and what a terrible thing it is since I’m one step closer to being there.

If you take into consideration that, in order for us to work, the Government must provide us with the means to get to work and all the things we need in order for us to go to work and do our job. Let’s not forget that everything we buy is subsidized by the Government at some level to make it affordable for us to buy.

Let’s start by taking into consideration:

1. The cost of providing transportation for the public to get to work which includes Public Transit, automobiles, auto parts, gas, roads, road repair and maintenance.

.....2. The cost of subsidized Daycare.

3. The cost of our work clothes and accessories.

4. The cost of packaging in order for us to have a meal during the day, either at a restaurant, food court, lunchbox and lets not forget coffee and the paper cups.

5. The cost of supplying us with a building to work in, work related equipment, supplies, heat and electricity to operate the building and equipment. This list is endless.

6. The clean-up cost of working such as garbage pick-up, floor washing, window washing and walkway cleaning.

.....7. .Etc., etc., etc.

There’s so many other "hidden work” expenses that the Government subsidizes in order to make it affordable for all of us to go to work.

Now let’s talk Job Creation and the cost to all taxpayers for the Government to create jobs that really are not necessary but because the people of our Country have to earn a buck to pay their expenses.

When I take a good look at the expense of the Government subsidizing our work related needs, I have to wonder if it’s not cheaper for the Government just to give me a welfare cheque every month instead of providing me with all the necessities that it takes to get me to a job that doesn’t really have to get done but someone created it so someone like me can earn a pay cheque and merely exist.

Will our tax dollars go further if more people went on welfare and sat on their asses? I wonder … …

A Creative Entrepreneur

Dear Mr. Mayor,

I came across an article about a creative entrepreneur who lives in your City and would like to bring this matter to your attention:

~ The Litter Guy ~

I strongly disagree with the City’s Volunteer Earth Day Clean-Up. If I were Mayor “The Litter Guy” would be a Union man, with paid benefits, paid vacation, a pension plan, a uniform provided by the City and there would be so many more like him. Actually, I do recall a time in our City’s not too distant past when that’s exactly what Litter Men were – PAID instead of volunteers – and I just don’t believe that there’s no money in the budget for this type of employment.

I don’t live in "The Litter Guy’s" neighbourhood but, if I should cross his path, I’ll be sure to give him a few dollars straight out of my line of credit.

Oh, by the way, Mr. Mayor, I was just a tad late paying one of my property tax installments and I was sent an invoice for a late charge in the amount of $20.00. I think that’s just a tad too much for a tax bill under $400.00? I actually considered signing up for the City’s deferred tax program and defer my taxes for three years, or until I find a job, so I don’t have to go into debt to cover the expense, but I decided to make the payment from my line of credit instead. Twenty Dollars! Well, that’s about two hours of my after-tax pay earned working on temporary assignments because of the severe job shortage in this City.

Hats off to “The Litter Guy”! Yes, we all have to eat.

Sincerely,

Well, my temporary assignment has come to an end and I'm back to pounding the pavement looking for work.  One of my co-workers at that temp location worked in the hotels in Dubai several years ago before coming to Canada.  Now, we all know about the amazing towers and architecture in the new developments in Dubai, and his colleagues there had emailed an image of a newly built tower. He forwarded it to me and here it is:

LAYOFF TOWER!

I replied:

Yes, we have several towers that look just like that in Toronto ... ... the mirror image!  Actually, that woman four rows from the bottom and second from the left looks familiar.  She looks like me!

Have a Great Day!

MY JOB HUNT - SUMMER OF 2008

Yes, it was total isolation on the job front. Why did I bother to send hundreds of resumes via e-mail and a handful through the Post Office? The e-mails only clogged up cyberspace and keep in mind that there were millions of others like me applying via e-mail as well. According to the instructors at the Job Finding Club only 2% of positions are filled by online applications. So why are there so many “Find Work Websites”?

On the other hand, the resumes I put in the mail did get some attention. From those resumes I was invited to several interviews but, and you may not believe this, I kind of got the impression they didn’t appreciate the letter mail. Who do I think I am not being paperless? I promote the Post Office and use the mail service. I’m looking for a job and maybe this will help create some within the Post Office. Everyone is so environmentally friendly and so anti-consumerism these days that it appears to me this path has been bad for the economy. There have been so many jobs lost and not enough have been created in environmental or IT fields as far as I’m concerned. The platform for job creation for the current election is in manufacturing. Yes, there too, but I'm rooting for the Post Office. Remember their logo ages ago, "Nor rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail will stop us from delivering the mail." That was before those mail boxes at the end of every street corner were invented.

It’s September and back to school and it’s back to work for me. Another temp assignment through an agency is the best I can do. Just in the nik of time since my EI benefits will expire soon. I truly believe that as time passes I just keep falling further and further down the permanent employment ladder and I’ll just never get a permanent job!

`
Then the other day, after several months of waiting, I received my severance pay from my last employer through registered mail. The Ministry of Labour came through! Many thanks to The Ministry of Labour for their help or I would have never seen this cheque. As was stipulated in my past employer’s letter attached to the cheque, “As instructed by the Ministry of Labour, per their letter … … we enclose payment to you as follows … … … “And that’s the end of that. It was all worth it? No. To think they didn’t want to give me what’s rightfully mine according to the Labour Laws without a fight.

If this isn’t the icing on the cake! My lawyer just sent me a bill for $590 for his services!
The nerve!

On my own intuition I went to Employment Insurance and asked them to obtain my Record of Employment for me since my ex-employer didn’t want to issue it to me and they did. Next I have to file a complaint with the Labour Board to deal with the two weeks severance pay that they neglected to pay me and this was not my lawyer’s advice either. I’m still waiting for the Labour Board to deal with this matter and my lawyer decides he did some work for me that I owe him money for! Well, I just put the invoice in the mail to the Labour Board with the background information and I guess I’ll have to wait until my numbers up to have an Investigation Officer appointed to my file to deal with this.

Well, looks like it will take awhile for the Labour Board to deal with my complaint. The other day I followed up on my claim and I was told that because of the backlog it will take at least six months for it to be assigned to an Investigation Officer.

In the meantime, just after I had been on Employment Insurance benefits for a month, I received a letter from EI asking me to attend an information session at one of their offices. I was delighted! Of course, I’ll be there with bells on!

There was a bunch of us there and the EI Speaker at that session advised us of all the programs available to us through EI to help get us back to work. She wanted us to take advantage of them, I could tell! So after signing up for a Workshop I was redirected to a Counselor and who suggested I sign up the Job Finding Club held at their office. Well, it fit in with my schedule and it was just a short drive away. It was a three-week program from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every day.

There was an interesting bunch of people there. I was surprised that about half had University degrees and the other half had Diplomas, Certificates or some kind of Trade Papers and all of us were desperately looking for a GOOD job. The course offered lots of advice and good ideas that covered everything to do with finding a job in today’s market. Time well spent!

After three weeks passed and all of us having sent lots of resumes everyday, making cold calls and some going for interviews, we parted ways with one of us finding employment, one other accepting a temporary position and the rest of us still unemployed.

~ Just how bad is this job market? ~

You said it!

We’ll keep in touch!

EI came through!

Now that I have my Record of Employment I can finalize my claim for EI benefits that I filed online. Next stop ... ... The Labour Board ... ... to collect my two weeks pay in lieu of notice that my former employer "neglected" to pay me.

Fred and Barney

Meet my ex-bosses, Fred and Barney, trying to make it in the world of the Jetson’s. Couldn’t they have kept their jobs at the quarry?

Yes, that’s my ex-bosses. We had a spat and Fred threw me out of the office and told me to go home and my employment is now totally terminated. They have requested I sign one of those Release forms agreeing not to slander, divulge information and, the form stipulates, I have it reviewed by my lawyer. That was their request. That I have it reviewed by a lawyer.

`

I didn’t think I knew any information to divulge since that I only worked in administration and covered Reception for a year. What do they think I know? I didn’t have access to confidential information.

Well, after reviewing it with my lawyer I realized the Release was totally one sided. There was no guarantee that they would also not slander or divulge information about me. Apparently this is not part of the standard Release form. I wonder why? Considering who my ex-bosses have ties with, they can really do damage to me and make sure I never work again if they slander me. On the other had I don’t know anyone to slander them to that would make a dent in their reputations.

I don’t want to sign the Release but my lawyer advises it. I think it's an intimidation tactic.

I decided to call EI to ask if this was a necessary measure before a record of employment is issued. No, it’s not. As a matter of fact, since I am unable to secure this document they will do their part and contact the employer themselves. All I had to do was complete the necessary form and provide proof that I was employed by them.

I’ve already been without an income for two months now. How time flies! We’ll wait and see if EI comes through. `

`

Remember this one?

"Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living.
Barely getting by, there’s no taking and no giving.
Want to get ahead, but the boss won’t give you credit!

It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it!”

Well, things just got worse. Now I have computer skills and they don’t!

So, the other day one of my fellow workers asked if I would look up some information on the Internet for him. He’s one of those people who can barely turn on the computer. What do they call them? Luddites. We’ll call him Sam. Sam just non-challantly strolled over to me and gave me a direct order. Well, I am not under his supervision but my boss and Sam often work together on assignments and so I told Sam, “Not right now. I’m in the middle of something. I can check tomorrow.” Sam thanked me and walked off.

My boss was not in for the rest of the afternoon or the next day so right away I began searching for the information Sam requested. Much to my surprise I found more than I bargained for. A sixty-page report on the topic of Sam’s request.

I went directly to the Office Manager and gave her a run down of Sam’s request.

“ …. Thing is, Sam would have never found this report, for that matter neither would my boss because they lack the necessary computer skills to gather this information. This particular report could make someone a lot of money if they have contacts in this field and I’m sure since most people in this field don’t have my area of expertise with computers, they would pay through their nose for this report. I don’t think this is something Sam should have in his possession so would you like to see the report and let me know what you think.”

She decided to take a look so I e-mailed the link.

After reviewing it she decided, “It’s not too bad. Don’t send the link just give him a photocopy and make sure it’s black & white.”

I wonder who else she sent it to?

I also brought to her attention that earlier that morning I did several searches on a related subject for my other boss, who also lacks computer skills, and together with this package was a goldmine and that made the matter even worse. Part of the assignment included a mailing list and I understand there is a market for these mailing lists and they are even sold online. One more thing, it had nothing to do with our line of work.

Where do we go from here? I’m in an entry level position and because of my level of expertise with computers and their lack of them, they will cash in on my work. I think this is worse than cashing in on an idea. A great idea comes once in awhile while I search for, and find, a goldmine of information every day.

Kids and their computers are now joined at the hip and these computers are an extension of themselves. Schools are now teaching kids, and it has been awhile that graduating high school classes have superior skills working on computers. It’s been my experience that there is a movement with the older workers who did not acquire a higher level of skills to hold the younger generation back intentionally, thereby holding back the Country as well.

Well, I’ve been working with a Firm in an Administrative capacity for the past ten months and I have so many beefs with no one to dump on so I’m going to put my thoughts down right here until I have enough ammunition to file a report with the Labour Board or Human Rights.

Let’s start with:

The Company I work for allows it’s employees to stay on staff after the normal retirement age of 65. This is mostly due to the fact that it is basically a family owned organization and the founder of the company is 83 years old and is still the company’s CEO. Therefore, in my section of the office there are several employees past retirement age. One is probably about 80 and there are several about 70 and many close to 65 who plan on “staying active” until they drop dead because they have “things to accomplish” and also plan on working until that day. The Provincial Legislation that was put in place recently whereby allowing everyone to work until Judgment Day didn’t help this situation so I expect this situation to get worse until some of these people kick the bucket. The Company’s profile, their views and the way they handle all aspects of operation reflects on this one thing – senility and just how long you can hang onto it until they get rid of you – oh, they’ll find a way. Are you sure?

Well, along with this age thing comes this compulsion to not let us “Spring Chickens” in on their “Trade Secrets” and they basically keep all their contact names and all the wisdom they have gained from their research reports and experience filed NOT in alphabetical order, with just a bit of critical info nowhere to be found – and so by doing this they maintain the upper hand.

Can’t we figure it out for ourselves? As a matter of fact, yes, I did. Worked against me. How can I learn if I don’t ask questions? I already knew this stuff. How did I know how to work the computer if no one showed me? I went back to College for a diploma before re-entering the workforce. What else can I do? No one has to know as far as they’re concerned.

And boy can they schmooze! You may not realize this, but they know without a doubt that schmoozing really throws us ‘yung ‘uns a curve ball.

When all else fails, SCHMOOZE.
When you don’t know the answer, SCHMOOZE.
When you don’t want to give them an answer, SCHMOOZE.
When you think they know more than you, SCHMOOZE.
When you don’t want them to get one up on you, SCHMOOZE.
When you want to “Get the Goods” on someone, SCHMOOZE.
And last but not least …
You’ll never close a deal until you learn the art of SCHMOOZING.

They know from all their experience that if they ask you about your kids, compliment your clothes and hair or even your car, you will let down your guard and there’s something in it for them.

And so I was delighted to accept this entry level job offer with this well establish organization. It’s true. The real reason being – I had been working temporary assignments for about four years waiting for a good opportunity but the job market was so bad and I didn’t get any offers that I finally settled for whatever came up first. Oh how very grateful I am! It’s true.

After ten months of employment I’ve had my dose of their antics. Along with the SCHMOOZING comes the SET UPS. The way they see it if things don’t go their way, set some one up for a fall, lay blame on someone else, destroy your Admin’s reputation so no one will believe anything she says. Keep her in the dark and feed her manure until she really screws up and you can fire her without anyone blaming you for anything and I’ve decided to wait until that day because then my wait for Unemployment benefits will be shorter because if I quit I may not qualify at all.

And this is my favourite:

Don’t give them anything to do. It’s enough to drive you to insanity having to go to work at 9:00 everyday to do NOTHING until 5:00 for long periods of time. After some time passes you suddenly realize you’ve lost some of your skills and now you can compete with the elders. It also doesn’t help matters that I have a 5’ by 5’ cubicle (cage) with 6’ tall dividing walls to work in. But I persevere knowing full well that if I leave there are no jobs waiting for me, the employment market is horrible.

I’m single again and my boss wants me to have a man. He’ll set me up. I wonder what’s in it for him? I’d rather spend my time with my children who my ex husband managed to steal from me but this is not in my boss's agenda since I’m sure he thinks I’m easier to hook up without kids in the picture. I outright told him I’m not interested so he uses me as a decoy in setting up others. I don’t think it’s my imagination that he’s doing this. I wonder what’s in it for him?

I did work at a temp placement where the woman who was supervising me offered to hook me up. They’ll give her a finders fee (I don’t know who) and she was willing to split it with me. Not having children is an asset.

I’ve also come to realize that the industry, in this case, is a little shady. Mostly because of all the SCHMOOZING the elders have been doing all these years. Now that most people entering the workforce have college and university under their belts, while the elders don’t, things will change. Not if they can help it.

But the real problem stems from decades ago when I married a man who’s family members wanted to get ahead in life at any cost and were able to totally destroy my children and I in the process. It comes with the territory. And what a coincidence that these same family members of his are clients of my bosses without my knowledge at the time I accepted the job. Is this a set up? I’d bet on it! That’s my pay back for marrying into that slime ball, sleazebag family that I was so happy to be rid of at the time of our divorce. Not likely as far as they’re concerned.