Will This Unemployment Never End?

Unemployment has turned out to be life changing for me on multiple levels. And I know I'm not alone. I think I can speak for the vast numbers of out-of-work Americans when I say that to feel fully human, we need basic needs met - food, shelter, companionship, not to mention it would be nice to even have a sense of purpose. When these needs are threatened, you not only lose your sense of security, in a very real way, but also a sense of self.

I've been working my entire adult life, starting the tail end of high school, and I've seen work ethics and policies change dramatically. I used to get one PAID hour of lunch and, at one company I worked for, even free food. But that was a long, long time ago. Now we are lucky to get a measly half hour for lunch and it's never paid. Vacation requests are met with resentment and raises are pretty much non-existent these days, forget bonuses. Employers are less and less concerned with employee well being, especially now when they can pick and choose from millions who will do anything to keep a job. I've done retail, corporate and non-profit and the trend remains the same throughout. Why, why, why can't we be more like Europe and grant maternity leave, free healthcare and life-affirming vacations? Don't we know this makes for happier and more PRODUCTIVE employees? How can a burnt-out unhappy shell of a worker do a good job for you?

And now apparently the Unemployment office has too many people to handle so it is denying more people arbitrarily. After working at an organization for almost ten years, feeding it my blood, sweat and tears, suddenly there were management upheavals and I started getting bizarre warning letters. Other staff members could cost them money (embezzlement and pure negligence) but my mild, human errors were held under pitiless scrutiny since I had one of the highest paid positions. The last person there to hold a similar title was forced to quit and got on unemployment, so after months of agonizing decision, I decided I had to do the same. No matter that my assistant took my job for lesser pay and title, no one believed my tale of woe at EDD, even after a sworn statement from my former boss, listing all my accomplishments and exemplary work. Months later, the next highest paid employee was forced to quit (and of course he was granted unemployment). Now I am being asked to come in again, a year later, for another interview. God help me.

Because of my low pay, I was already forced to give up my apartment, furniture, cable, landline, utilities, most groceries and any other "luxuries", leaving me with only a car payment (on a used car, obtained from insurance money from my almost-paid-off totaled previous car), car insurance, cell phone and credit cards and a late rent payment to whomever was kind enough to take me in. I had zero money so I had to beg and borrow from friends and family and let me tell you, that did even more wonders for this divorcee's self-worth. I applied to every Starbucks in the area, every Craig's List job, called a bunch of temp agencies and there was nothing, nothing, nothing, even for someone with great managerial skills and extensive office experience (of vastly different types) of over 20 years. I joined Pink Slip Mixers (see link below), a great group of people to commiserate with and reassure me that they, too, were highly skilled out-of-work human beings, through no fault of their own.

That was last summer, the Summer of Suck, and I would never wish that on my worst enemy (well, maybe one). And to think the EDD would assume I would willingly put myself in that humiliating position is utterly distressing. There is room for compassion, even in the unwielding humorless grey offices of Unemployment. We're all in this together America. Out of desperation, I wrote to President Obama and got a form letter back, saying the administration was doing its best to find work for its people and to pretty much hang in there. Thanks. Tell that to my bill collectors. I mean, people are reduced to pawning family jewels for God's Sake.

The only bright spot in the last two years has been the kindness of friends and family. When everything was stripped away, someone miraculously still took me in. So I guess that's what we hold on to now, the shining moments of hope in the darkness of this seemingly unending and relentless recession. Even when I'm so bone-tired and bogged down that I can't possibly imagine sending my resume out on yet another fruitless search, I remember spots of joy and I will close my eyes and pray that will see me through one more heartlessly clinical interrogation at the EDD.

Kate West Reviews

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