Should workers fired for severe misconduct be rewarded with unemployment money?
By Taskr36
@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
August 13, 2010 12:34pm CST
So I just got this email from the union president ripping into NJ Governor Christie because he wants to delay unemployment benefits for people fired for misconduct by one week, and block those fired for "severe misconduct" until they can find a new job and hold it for a set period of time. This email paints him as some evil man who wants people to suffer.
Now this is all funny to me since I just came from Florida where these policies have been in effect for at least the last 15 years. In Florida, if you're fired for ANY kind of misconduct, good luck getting ANY unemployment benefits. Even if you're the victim of simple layoffs you still have to wait a week to file for unemployment and another week or two to get benefits.
This is from the email:
"Examples of severe misconduct provided in the legislation include “repeated violations of an employer’s rule or policy”, “repeated lateness or absences after a written warning by an employer”, “falsification of records”, “misuse of benefits”, “misuse of sick time”, “abuse of leave”, “excessive use of intoxicants or drugs on the work premises”, and “theft of time”. "
Now I know that I don't want people sucking up my tax dollars if they are fired for these reasons. Do you? Several of these things are not simply work violations, but actual crimes like theft of time and drug use.
Typically the government jobs I've worked at have had rules against political activity on the job so this is the first time I've experienced this kind of crap at work. Unions of course are exempt from such rules as they aren't really employees of the state. I guess I should at least be happy that this union didn't pray for the governor's death the way the teacher's union did.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Good for Gov. Christie. Maybe these people would think twice before they act and do something that is wrong or not following the established rules. People are expecting the Government to fix all their problems or mistakes. They make a bad investment in a house and they want the government to bail them out. They lose a job and they expect the government to keep paying them until the perfect job opens up in the location they want. I was laid off as a school administrator and I took a job as a sub teacher to pay the bills until I could find the right job, and then I had to move to take the job.
@warmweatherwoman (2233)
• Atlantic City, New Jersey
14 Aug 10
Although I agree with most of Gov. Christie's cuts (I am a democrat)-
Stating that people themselves made a bad investment in a house and they want the govenment to bail them out is ludacris. Are you paying attention to the ongoing housing crisis our nation is facing? This isn't because people made "bad investments" in their houses.....these people were tricked by mortgage bankers into balloon interest rates and when the rate ballooned...they were not told it would exceed their income. Everyone wants a piece of the good old American Pie- and owning a house is part of that dream....but our bankers got greedy..who knowingly sold this dream to people who couldn't afford it in the long run....and put many families in jerperdy of being homeless for thier own gain! It the bankers who put this economy where it is....and guess what....they are the ones that got bailed out....us homeowners got jack!!!
Now, in NJ if you fired for "misconduct" you are required to wait six weeks and have the option of appealing the decision. I believed I was fired wrongly- so I did appeal the decision - and won for that matter- because unfortunelty- my job is one of the ones that used the recession as a cover-up to lay people off due to the feds beginning investigations about misappropriation of funds (I worked at a state/federal funded non-profit)- so they fired everyone not being paid our of the correct grant- I was one of them. I do believe that 6 weeks is appropriate IF you were truly fired for misconduct. But beware- because as you have read my story above....it isn't always what it seems to be!
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Hey, those who didn't sell before the bubble popped made a bad investment unless they planned to stay adn pay the appropriate interest rates. When you take out a loan to purchase a house the details of your contract are thoroughly spelled out and it is your job as a buyer and as an adult to fully review and understand that contract. If it is too complicated, hire a lawyer or experienced real estate agent to explain the details.
Frankly, anyone who signs a balloon interest rate is just asking for trouble. Typically those are people who have some misconception that by the time the interest rate balloons they'll be making more money. I have had car salesman try and pull that crap on me. Adults need to take responsibility for their own actions. Nobody made you buy a house. Nobody made you agree to the terms of the home loan.
@trruk1 (1028)
• United States
14 Aug 10
I understand that people are often fired for misconduct, and in those cases there should at least be a delay in unemployment benefits. But that is the stated reason every single time somebody gets fired. Well, almost. I did lose a job because my position was eliminated. The company said so, in writing, and unemployment kicked in right away. But often the allegation of misconduct is just a standard claim for letting somebody go. The person who was fired should be able to contest it, and then the burden of proof is on the employer.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
14 Aug 10
No.
For as long as I can remember, in my state the the only way you could get unemployment was if you were laid off or terminated, and your behavior did not cause the termination.
You cannot quit a job and get unemployment, and if you are fired and it was your fault you were fired then you are not eligible as well.
As to unions, the sooner that we outlaw and ban all union activity in the US, the better off we will all be.
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Can we get the same laws for CEO's???? I can tell you right now, I will sexually harass ANYONE, and try badly to fudge my expense records to cover up said harassment if I will be forced to resign, and make $26.5 Million for doing so. And, I will be more than happy to have the governor of NJ hold my unemployment for as long has he or she wants.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Misconduct on the job should have its penalties. Being fired from a job is not something that should ever be rewarded. You should not be allowed to collect unemployment money when you are fired unless the fault was clearly not your own. This just takes away from those who are deserving. @tymfactor03 (60)
• Australia
14 Aug 10
it sounds very fair to me, why would you get paid for something you did wrong seems werid that the governor is being said as a evil man. But i guess not all people want to adapt to changes that are against their benefit but that will be unfair to the people who worked very hard to keep their jobs.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
13 Aug 10
In Georgia you cannot get any unemployment benefits if you get fired for misconduct. You do have the chance to fight this decision by proving you were not guilty of any misconduct.
I think this is absolutely fair. It you are such a lousy employee you get fired then IMO you do not deserve any benefits.
@Zeppelin88 (128)
•
13 Aug 10
Of course not.
Here in England if you quit a job or lose it through your own behavioural flaws you are unable to access financial support for thriteen weeks. Seems fair to me.
