“Losing your job affects everything in your life”
By Kim McMurray — Philadelphia
“Losing your job affects everything in your life. It is not just the money–it affects your relationships, your happiness, your dignity.” It was Saturday morning and I was sitting in the kitchen of one of our member’s houses, drinking a glass of water, and listening to his story. Though heartbreaking and unimaginable, it was a story that I had heard before, in different members’ kitchens, in coffee shops, over the phone in my office in Center City, Philadelphia.
William had been laid off from three or four jobs in the last decade. The company would move out of Pennsylvania, or simply go bankrupt. Once, he called in to a job to tell them he was taking vacation, and they told him to pick up his tool belt because they would be closed by the time he got back. And these weren’t perfect jobs. He would start at $9 an hour, taking the night shift so that he could be with his two kids during the day while his wife was at work. But he would work hard, and eventually make it up to $17 an hour or so: enough to make ends meet.
Inevitably though, he would be laid off and have to start all over again. “You never expect to lose your job,” he said, and I could feel the truth of his words. “And here I was, stuck again, trying to survive.” During his time unemployed, William would send out about 20 applications each week, applying for jobs that weren’t in his industry, just trying to make it into the door. Trying to make it anywhere.
This is a common story. Last week, I met with a man named Harold who drove trucks, or at least he used to. For 28 years, he crossed the country, delivering goods where they needed to go. Two years ago, he was laid off, and with that pink slip he also lost his health insurance while his wife was undergoing cancer treatments. For two years he has searched for a job. He has sent applications out everywhere. He has stood in line for hours because of a rumor that a warehouse might be hiring, his resume clutched in his hands.
Every day I hear stories from families just trying to get by, to find work, to gather up some of the things that they lost. The unemployment crisis has reached every sector of our community. The faces of the unemployed are all around us. They are standing in line at the grocery store, figuring out if they have enough to pay. They are searching online at the local library to find out if their benefits have been extended yet. They are offering me a glass of water on a Saturday morning.
“Losing your job affects everything in your life.” I shivered when I heard those words because I have learned just how true they are.
Tags: unemployment
Losing a job doesn’t have to affect dignity, unless the worker buys into valuing himself based on how much he is paid.
The promise of capitalism, rewarding people based on contribution to society, is deceptive. For as long as I remember, those who contribute to profit make more money. However, profit often requires disregard for the consumer, employee, human life and environmental sustainability. Ideas about employee loyalty, serving the best interest of the community and hard work protecting the middle class went out of style in the 1970s. Since then, Corporate interests have purchased favorable legislation through campaign contributions, allowing unfair trade, unsafe working conditions and diminishing real wages for a growing number of every day people. The recent supreme court decision to allow entities free speech cements control of government through money. Recognizing injustice can be a catalyst for personal discovery and right action for the good of everyone.
Yes, prolonged unemployment is financial terrorism, affecting middle class’ survival by withdrawing means to purchase necessities like food, shelter and medical care. Financial devastation interferes with emotional and physical security, affecting relationships and health. However, dignity comes from recognizing inner worth. That is a personal choice. Never, ever allow someone or something outside yourself determine your perception of self-worth.
Instead, when everything seems to be against you, fight back by refusing to buy into propaganda from special interests, spread through corporate owned media, subtly telling the middle class to discard dignity like a worn out tee-shirt. Recognize this is intentional manipulation of YOUR CHOICES by powers that think they be through entertainment, “news” and the political process.
I wrote a song called “Pay Day Blues” about what has happened over the past several years, encouraging listeners to rebuild their lives through personal excellence and community cooperation. Listen FREE @ http://www.mp3unsigned.com/showmp3.asp?mp3ID=47726. I’ll give a FREE download to anyone who writes their story of survival and transformation here. Contact me at the above site by clicking “contact artist”.
I encourage the unemployed to fight the temptation to succumb to mental warfare and realize this is mental manipulation designed by elite forces,
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Say what you want about how people aren’t supposed to allow a job to define them or their lives, it DOES. And losing a job can eat your heart and soul away, esp. if you have a family to care for, or if you are an “older” worker in society. At that point, no one wants you any longer and there are no “safety nets” either. I lost my job to downsizing in 2005 and haven’t recovered since. All I can find is part-time and working damned HARD to keep it, but may yet lose my home. I am working harder at 58 than I ever had to at 18, partly because the work is harder for my hands and eyes now, memory sucks..and the jobs are ever more demanding. And they’ve got you by the ass!
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I’m sorry you allow your job to define you, Kota. I know how you feel because I am collateral damage of this economic terrorism too.
I have a Master’s degree in Business Administration (graduated with a 4.0 gpa) and many years executive experience but have been out of paid employment since 2008. I refrained from engaging Corporate greed and deception, serving the best interest of the client and meticulously complying to company policy and legal requirements.
I completely agree that losing a job, being cut off unemployment and all the rest is psychological, emotional and spiritual hell. My progressive rock songs “Sleepless Night”, “Incite Social Evolution”, “Fiat Greed” and “Into the Dream” reflect my struggle; discovering a world of injustice. But I REFUSE to allow my sense of personal value be defined by circumstances beyond my control.
Please listen to my songs. I’ll give you a free download of choice with my best wishes to you, me and everyone else in our situation for a complete and immediate recovery.
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I just found out that I was to be laid off at the end of this month. My husband was laid off in January. It has caused stress. If you don’t think a job loss affects your life, just try to make it without one once in your life.
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Keep reporting your unemployed status. This will keep the official unemployment more accurately reflecting reality.
Keep calling your US Senators & Representatives.
Make the above comments on articles and in forums. Tell anyone who claims they are paying for you to be unemployed that they are WRONG. Unemployment tax is paid by employers, not employees. They can check their pay stubs or better yet, do a little research and check for themselves:
“The Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), with state unemployment systems, provides for payments of unemployment compensation to workers who have lost their jobs. Most employers pay both a Federal and a state unemployment tax. A list of state unemployment tax agencies, including addresses and phone numbers, is available in Publication 926, Household Employer’s Tax Guide. Only the employer pays FUTA tax; it is not deducted from the employee’s wages. For more information, refer to the Instructions for Form 940 (PDF). ”
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=104985,00.html
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