The Slackers on Unemployment

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returned to load up again — same thing. On the third and final approach I managed to cajole one lone Pakistani with a promise of $20 per hour. He turned out completely useless and I drove him home with full pay shortly after providing him with lunch.The point of this longwinded story is that I failed to get it through my thick head that the market had changed. A year later anticipating market changes I offered$ 35 per hour to each of a four man team — they were awesome!How can business owners be savvy to the market when pricing their burgers for customers but so thick headed when it comes to labor? Just as the price of soup soared at the outset of Corona, labor has swung now from being too much while closing down to not enough opening up. It’s probably temporary — but maybe not. People for the most part are human and are neither sacks of flour nor robots. As the world moves forward we maybe wise to distinguish the difference because machines (according to my mentor <a href="https://quillette.com/2018/06/29/the-war-on-normal-people/">Andrew Yang</a>) are poised to take over yet again and that the recognition and value of human qualities is essential to any kind of social, political an

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d economic harmony.That people take advantage of the extended unemployment payments is not altogether bad. Are there some who simply wait out this time doing little? Yes of course. But, there are others reassessing their opportunities for their own success and in turn the success of the U.S. It’s not unlikely that many have used this respite to learn new skills (I have learnt to write during this time and although it’s not a massive bread winner I believe my efforts contribute to a better and more enjoyable society). Others are taking this time to put business plans together or learning to play the guitar. There are good reasons to be happy in our occupations which are often overlooked and unappreciated — we are generally more productive for one.Ah! getting back to the comments made by CC and BNS. For a country obsessed with the freedom of the individual, we are so quick to tell others how to behave — especially when it’s those people.<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/16/business/unemployment-job-search-requirements.html">Unemployment Pay May Again Require a Job Search. Is It Too Soon?</a> by Sydney Ember, New York Times May 16, 2021</article></body>

The Slackers on Unemployment

Sitting on the sofa, the laid-off may have reassessed their value

The piece by Sydney Ember in the New York Times May 16, 2021 on job search requirements was perhaps more enlightening because of reader responses and thumbs up than the article itself.

Topping the charts with 465 such thumbs was CC who wrote “Quit whining, take the job that’s available”.

Close behind was BNS with “Everywhere are help wanted signs. Businesses can’t find employees. Inflation rampant. Stop the checks NOW”.

“Sitting on hands” by Kerry Landon-Lane

I recall driving over to my favorite pick up place in downtown Danbury — the bus station chock-full of day laborers. All just waiting for me because I hadn’t swung by in over a year. Unlocking the doors I instantly had a Range Rover packed with Ecuadorians. But to my utter dismay they all disembarked when I declared I was willing to pay $15 per hour. I drove around the block in disbelief and then returned to load up again — same thing. On the third and final approach I managed to cajole one lone Pakistani with a promise of $20 per hour. He turned out completely useless and I drove him home with full pay shortly after providing him with lunch.

The point of this longwinded story is that I failed to get it through my thick head that the market had changed. A year later anticipating market changes I offered $35 per hour to each of a four man team — they were awesome!

How can business owners be savvy to the market when pricing their burgers for customers but so thick headed when it comes to labor? Just as the price of soup soared at the outset of Corona, labor has swung now from being too much while closing down to not enough opening up. It’s probably temporary — but maybe not. People for the most part are human and are neither sacks of flour nor robots. As the world moves forward we maybe wise to distinguish the difference because machines (according to my mentor Andrew Yang) are poised to take over yet again and that the recognition and value of human qualities is essential to any kind of social, political and economic harmony.

That people take advantage of the extended unemployment payments is not altogether bad. Are there some who simply wait out this time doing little? Yes of course. But, there are others reassessing their opportunities for their own success and in turn the success of the U.S. It’s not unlikely that many have used this respite to learn new skills (I have learnt to write during this time and although it’s not a massive bread winner I believe my efforts contribute to a better and more enjoyable society). Others are taking this time to put business plans together or learning to play the guitar. There are good reasons to be happy in our occupations which are often overlooked and unappreciated — we are generally more productive for one.

Ah! getting back to the comments made by CC and BNS. For a country obsessed with the freedom of the individual, we are so quick to tell others how to behave — especially when it’s those people.