I know a half dozen people here in NC who are now working 4 days a week, every other week. They are all working for different companies. They are not eligible for unemployment. Here in NC, you can not collect benefits if you are working 32 hours a week. You must be off at least 2 weeks before you can apply.
You can not quit your job and collect unemployment either.
They are now making 40% of the money they were making…and not eligible for unemployment.
Furthermore, if the companies do lay them off in the future, their benefit will be reduced substantially as benefits are based on how much money you make.
And they wonder why people go “postal”.
Ralph
On the plus side, they ARE working. Maybe the company does not want to get rid of trained people, or wants to insure everyone has SOME income.
That’s gotta be rough.
I keep reading stories like this. There are going to be riots in the streets if this keeps up.
I keeps tellin ya…
(http://www.mondotees.com/ProductImages/moredecals/eatrich.jpg)
Thinkin maybe I should start a cook book “The Executive Serving Manual”
(http://www.jrcigarblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/twilight_zone_to_serve_man.jpg)
:lol:
Bob McCown said:
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/theticker/entries/2009/02/24/spansion_restores_executive_pa.htmlI keep reading stories like this. There are going to be riots in the streets if this keeps up.
Who are these idiots?
These “idiots” are the so-called executives and managers that have taken over many of our best and most innovative American corporations and institutions. They start by scooping up existing companies, relying on the previous developments and successes of their acquisitions. They then add a bunch of BS about how they are going to change the (assumedly inadequate) way the previous owners ran the business. As an example, here is a quote from About Spansion:
Quote:Note that there is no mention of any new or advancing technology. Just focus on how they will fix all the perceived inadequacies of the previous (successful) owners by some undefined magic, but certainly including hiring multi-million dollar / year financial and management experts and paying them large bonuses to beat the crap out of their employees and facilities.
While the memory industry has operated primarily as a commodity industry with little differentiation among products, and competition based mostly on supply and demand, Spansion has the vision to completely redefine what it means to be a Flash memory company. We intend to deliver more genuine value in all aspects of our business – from technology, products and solutions to the way we do business and interact with our customers to bring them complete customer satisfaction. Our focus on operational excellence and efficient manufacturing capabilities means we can deliver greater efficiency to customers.
Here is another quote from About Spansion:
Quote:Note again that they are just buying up existing companies and technologies. Their business plan is to license that purchased technology to someone with a wafer fab in China or India (or any other place with cheap labor and no environmental protection laws), who will pay their workers $50 / week while dumping the waste SiCl4 in the creek behind the plant. Every time a chip leaves the plant, Spansion's cash register goes ca-ching.
The recent acquisition of Saifun expands Spansion's product portfolio, and enables Spansion’s immediate entry into the technology licensing business, significantly expanding Spansion’s market opportunity.
Even the names these “idiots” choose reek of horse shit. Take “Spansion”, a ‘new’ company formed from the combining of several previously successful companies including AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), one of the real innovators and powerhouses of the American and international semiconductor industry. I have been told that the name was chosen because they anticipated great expansion of the business, what ever it is.
That unfortunately is the currently accepted business model in the U.S. technology industry, I don’t see it changing until as Bob wrote, there are riots in the streets.
Happy RRing,
Jerry
David Hill said:
On the plus side, they ARE working. Maybe the company does not want to get rid of trained people, or wants to insure everyone has SOME income.That’s gotta be rough.
David,
The workers would make considerably MORE money collecting unemployment. The companies are exploiting a loop hole in the unemployment regulations.
If they scheduled work two weeks on, two weeks off…the workers would receive unemployment benefits for one of the two weeks they were off.
Ralph
That sucks. The companies in Penna. have their unemployment “tax” based on how many claim days they must pay and must still pay into UC while the workers are out.
Do the employees keep any benefits i.e. health insurance, seniority, vacation time, etc.?
David Hill said:
That sucks. The companies in Penna. have their unemployment "tax" based on how many claim days they must pay and must still pay into UC while the workers are out.Do the employees keep any benefits i.e. health insurance, seniority, vacation time, etc.?
I know of one who has lost his insurance. Several others still have insurance but have had to cancel their family coverage. Could not afford the premiums after the loss of 60% of their pay.
Ralph
That is the purpose…no claim days…no increase in the unemployment “tax”
I was once ‘laid off’ by an employer, and was eligible for COBRA to continue my insurance. I wouldn’t have been able to afford the insurance price under the COBRA plan even if I had still been employed! COBRA is just a BS plan designed to make people think government is doing something to help those in need.
Happy RRing,
Jerry