One of the programs of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance. It helps people who have lost their jobs pay the sometimes hefty premiums for continued health insurance coverage, paying 65% of their premium. The program started in February, and Renee was enrolled right away. This month she was billed for her full premium again with no warning.
unemployment
Jobless Guy Buys Facebook Ads To Land Microsoft Gig
By 5.21.09
Eric just graduated from an MBA program Monday and landed smackdab in the middle of our job-shriveling recession. So what did he do? To try to land a job at Microsoft, he bought Facebook ads that specifically targeted employees at the companies he wants to work for. It cost him less than $50, and he got over 20 Microsoft employees to contact him offering their help. Here’s how he did it:
Thirteen More Weeks Of Unemployment Benefits In New York State
By 5.20.09
Governor David Paterson of New York signed into law a bill extending unemployment benefits for thirteen more weeks. Around 56,000 people are on their last week of benefits right now, and the extension takes effect immediately.
New Jersey: Sorry, We Mailed Your SSN To Some Random Companies
By 5.19.09
Oh, human error. New Jersey has announced that an unknown number of unemployed residents had their personal information shared with companies they never worked for.
Chrysler Will Close One Fourth Of Its Dealerships Next Month
By 5.15.09
Mark Calisi, 47, who owns Eagle Auto-Mall in Riverhead, New York, says he was “devastated” to learn that his dealership would be closed. He said Chrysler accounts for a third of his business, which also sells Volvo, Mazda and Kia, and that on Thursday he had to sack 30 of his 100 employees.
Out-Of-Work Adults Try To Nab Summer Lifeguard Positions
By 5.8.09
Some adults who are out of work are now going after classic teen jobs, says ABC News. In Florida, which has the fourth-highest unemployment rate of the nation, men in their 30s and 40s “have pulled on swim trunks in hopes of beating out the teenagers for a few choice positions as $9.37 an hour lifeguards.” The report also says adults are trying out for jobs at places like Six Flags. All of this reminds us a little of this Kids In The Hall Sketch (see below) where a young boy finds a stray businessman and brings him home.
Where Are New Job Opportunities? Try Wyoming, North Dakota, Virginia
By 5.6.09
As unemployment grows, MainStreet looked at where in the U.S. there are actually new job opportunities. Ranked #51 is Michigan. #1? North Dakota.
Former Domino's YouTube Gross Out Girl Can't Get A Job Now
By 5.6.09
Kristy Hammonds, the woman who filmed her friend Michael doing inappropriate things to the food they were supposed to be preparing, needs a job to feed her two kids. She says she’s been trying to get work at other fast food restaurants, though, which might be part of the problem.
8.5% Unemployment? More Like 15.6%
By 4.15.09
Officially, the unemployment rate is 8.5%, but that’s just part of the picture. It doesn’t count those who have given up looking for work, or those who are working part-time when they’d rather be working full-time. The real unemployment rate may be closer to 15.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yikes.
Virgin Mobile Offers To Pay Your Phone Bill For 3 Months If You Get Laid Off
By 4.14.09
Starting tomorrow, Virgin Mobile will offer all customers who sign up for $30 or more post-paid plans coverage under their free Pink Slip program, which means if you get laid off and can provide proof, they’ll pay your cellphone bill for three months, and you won’t have to put a Skype number on your resume.
Nurse Laid Off In The Middle Of Surgery
By 4.14.09
When Dean Health System in Madison, Wisconsin announced last week that it “planned to ‘immediately’ lay off 90 employees,” it wasn’t kidding around. One of them was a nurse who was pulled out of surgery to be told the news.
Job Seekers Crowd Jamba Juice. Customers? Not So Much.
By 4.9.09
I saw this crowd outside the Jamba Juice on 3rd Ave and 61st today. They’re hiring. The job applicants stretched around the corner and down the block. At peak lunch time, there were only three customer inside. That’s pretty much the economy in a nutshell smoothie right there.
JoS A. Bank Will Refund Part Of Suit If You Lose Your Job
By 3.19.09
Work suits starting to look a little shabby? Wishing that that cool worn-in jeans look applied to trousers? One men’s clothier is sick and tired of men cutting back on buying suits because of the economy — so they’re promising to refund a portion of the money you spent on the suit if you lose your job.
By 3.18.09
../../../..//2009/03/18/if-you-were-recently-laid/
If you were recently laid off, you can get a free FranklinCovey day planner this Saturday, March 21st, by showing up at a participating store and giving the name of your former employer and the date you were let go. [FranklinPlanner.com] (Thanks to Anne!)
Top 10 Foreclosure States
By 3.12.09
Rising unemployment is exacerbating the already critical foreclosure crisis, because sadly, while you can return your Hyundai if you lose your income — you’re kinda stuck with that 4 bedroom ranch with the in-ground pool.
By 3.11.09
../../../..//2009/03/11/the-worst-unemployment-rate/
The worst unemployment rate in more than 25 years has started to affect Staples. Lower demand for computers and furniture has lead to a 14% drop in profit. [CNNMoney]
Public Transit Ridership Highest In 52 Years
By 3.10.09
See, here’s some good news to the wallet-gouging gas prices of 2008: ridership of public transportation was up to 10.7 billion trips last year, “the highest level of ridership in 52 years” according to the American Public Transportation Association. It was the fifth consecutive year that ridership increased, but it may come to an end in 2009 because of skyrocketing unemployment.
By 3.9.09
../../../..//2009/03/09/we-suppose-this-was-inevitable/
We suppose this was inevitable. [Stuff Unemployed People Like]
