Housekeepers at three Hyatt hotels in Boston made over $15 an hour and had benefits like 401(k) retirement plans and health insurance. On August 31st, Hyatt laid them off en masse—after first having them train their replacements under the guise of creating a holiday fill-in staff—and turned the housekeeping duties over to an outside firm.
unemployment
Bernanke Says The Recession Is "Likely Over"
By 9.15.09
Good news? Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says that the recession is over, but that it won’t really stop the rise of unemployment — currently at a 26-year high of 9.7%.
You're Ugly! You're Hired!
By 9.9.09
We love this column from Marty Nemko over at Kiplinger because it’s sort of a go-get-’em morale booster to the ugly—only instead of boosting morale, it just gets more depressing as it goes on. But funny depressing. And after all the weird advice on watching your weight and avoiding hairpieces and wearing moderate makeup, Nemko makes an interesting case for why “ugly” people are better hires.
Four Stimulus Benefits That Will Expire Soon
By 8.31.09
Kiplinger lists four ways you can still get some cash back from the government, although you’d better get a move on if you want to qualify. Included are a first-time home buyer’s credit that goes away November 30th, a new car tax credit, a COBRA premium subsidy for people laid off, and a slight unemployment payment benefit.
More Unemployed Alumni Sue Their College
By 8.29.09
Everyone (including us) snickered when an unemployed woman sued the college she had graduated from only months before, but the news story did help bring to light the overly optimistic or outright misleading claims made by some for-profit educational institutions. Now, thirteen former students of Everest College‘s Dallas campus have sued the school, claiming that they were misled about the transferability of the school’s credits and their prospects for employment.
Laid-Off Workers Keep Up Appearances, Pretend To Be Employed
By 8.16.09
Earlier this week, the Washington Post shared the story of a man who tried hard to keep up appearances, and to carefully choreograph his routine so his friends and neighbors wouldn’t think of him differently. Finally, he tired of the charade, and outed himself. As an unemployed person.
Lose Your Job? Don't Worry, Our Exorbitant Payday Loan Fees Are On Us
By 8.13.09
Do you need cash right now, but are worried that you might lose your job in the next two weeks? Guarantees for customers who lose their jobs have worked for Hyundai, Ford, GM, and Sears, so now the practice has expanded to the payday loan industry.
Bad News: Yet Another Record Month For Foreclosures
By 8.13.09
For the third time in the last five months a new record for foreclosure filings has been reached says foreclosure tracking firm RealtyTrac. July saw an increase of 7% from June of this year and, even more telling, a 35% increase from last year.
Don't Say These Things In A Job Interview
By 8.6.09
Don’t hit on the interviewer. Don’t ask whether they might be able to discover your past arrests. Don’t ask what the company does, or see if they can pick you up when it rains. In fact, here are 43 things you shouldn’t say during an interview if you actually want the job.
Consumers Are Scared To Lose Their Jobs, Still Saving For Their Inevitable Unemployment
By 7.24.09
The deepest “employment slump of any recession in the last eight decades” has consumers convinced they’re about to lose their jobs — and that’s affecting consumer confidence, says Bloomberg.
Don't Wait For Financial Crisis To Adjust Your Lifestyle
By 7.23.09
If you’re worried some financial cataclysm will knock you into a miserable life situation, why not jump the gun and start slumming it to anticipate the meltdown? MSN Money writer Donna Freedman advises such a maneuver, along with other pre-emptive strikes against destitution.
Lose Your Wrinkles To Gain An Edge In The Job Market?
By 6.29.09
A Botox clinic in Virginia made news recently when it offered free anti-wrinkle injections to job-seekers. The “Botox Bailout” event allowed old, recently unemployed hags the chance to trade in their wrinkled resume for a wrinkle-free forehead. Because, if you’re having trouble finding work in the middle of a recession then, duh, it’s because of your crow’s feet.
You're Never Too Old To Have A Summer Job
By 6.11.09
Inspired by our post on thirty- and forty-somethings trying to snag traditionally teenage jobs? If you’ve always wanted to be a lifeguard, bar back, or roller coaster operator, here are some tips for beating the other applicants and letting teenagers worry about the unemployment rate. (Photo: Atwater Village Newbie)
Hopelessness Hit 9.4% In May
By 6.5.09
Hopelessness hit 9.4% in May. Oh wait, we meant joblessness. Actually, with jobless claims about half the average loss of the past six months, could hope poised for a comeback? [NYT] (Photo: joshuahoffmanphoto)
Good News? United States Shed 532,000 Jobs In May
By 6.3.09
A report from a private employment service says that US employers shed 532,000 jobs in May, less than in April, but not much less. It’s also less than expected.
Which Parts Of The Country Are Carrying The Most Credit Card Debt?
By 5.25.09
Forbes wanted to know which states had the highest average balances per household in May, so they took the total amount of debt in 50 major metropolitan areas, divided that by the number of households, then divided that by the median household income for that area for May. Here are some of their results.
