Being Out Of Work DOES Have Its Advantages

@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
November 12, 2010 7:37pm CST
The obvious one is the freedom BUT I have been reading allsorts recently about all the cutbacks that will come in the public sector (where I have worked in the past) and I'm beginning to think that home is where I should be..for now at least. For starters, the cuts will mean that there will be job losses, no doubts about that. I have also read that the people that are left will work a lot harder and take up more space in the office as it's cheaper to operate that way than to have some people working in a room all by themselves. Therefore overcrowding will become an issue. Cumbria County Council have been guilty of this, even when Labour were in power so God knows how bad it will be under the Con/Dems Coalition government. I know that Health & Safety has gone a bit over the top in the UK BUT it will move more in the other direction in my view, now that the Coalition want to take the country backwards in order to save money. I predict I won't get a job now until Labour get back in, which may be in 5 years' time, maybe longer. But I'm not prepared to work in the public sector with this shower in charge. Or anywhere else come to that as my hubby is testament to the fact that the private sector are no better at managing their workforces either. God, I reckon we should move to France. They moan if they have to work over 35 hours a week (shock, horror)!
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11 responses
@vandana7 (98986)
• India
13 Nov 10
I find it strange that people are only looking at immediate future. While it is of concern, the fact remains that countries like mine (India) do need to cut down on population. We've been exporting people to other nations. Agreed many of them are intelligent and hard working. But they've usurped the jobs which actually should have gone to the local people, be they the Britishers or the Americans, or even Australians. Such acceptance of people from other nations in jobs is not good because locally people still think three and four is manageable number!!! It is not! How will we accommodate them, how will the world feed them, leave alone the medical health and what nots. Pity - nobody wants to hit the nail on its head. If I were anywhere near UN and IMF - I would make it mandatory for India to reduce its population within a specified time frame, and simply refuse to give loans until India got rid of all ministers that had more than two children.
@vandana7 (98986)
• India
14 Nov 10
Taking employment in another country is virtually stealing continuously and long term from that country! Not right Janey. Taxpayers dont have a choice about whom they want to help. Taxes are partly used to encourage industries. And once these come up, somebody other than the person for whom the taxpayer would be willing to forego hard earned monies gets the job! And the world keeps quiet because we are supposed to be - tolerant? I do think it is wrong because back home, people are happy enough bringing more mouths to feed, absolutely unconcerned about how they hurt other people! When asked how they will feed these kids - they are happy enough to say - god has created them, he will find a way, as if irresponsibility had nothing to do with it. We have a minister who does not even the know the names of his kids and the sequence in which they were born!
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
I'm glad you said that and not me as I'm from the UK but agree with you, actually. Something really has to be done about world population, not just in India but everywhere. The UK has far too many people for its size and most are congregated in urban areas like London. The countryside is relatively barren of people but there's no work there, apart from on the farms. I did think the Chinese policy of only having one child was controversial at the time but it's actually worked. I think other countries should follow suit..or at least be educated in population explosions and what they can do to an economy.
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Nov 10
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
13 Nov 10
It's going to be tough, all over, for a very long time. Way too many of our Governments spent money they didn't have and now we're going to have to suck it up or several generations behind us will never have a chance. I don't have kids, but I sure don't want to leave that legacy.
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
I don't have kids either but my nephew is out of work. Whenever he does get a job it never lasts as they are on a casual basis. Training doesn't seem to be there either, which is very worrying for the youngsters who want to earn a living rather than to so-called "further their education."
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@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Nov 10
Well yeah but they speak FRENCH there.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Nov 10
No work in 'em lol.
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13 Nov 10
This country sucks, but then you know my feelings on what is happening in the UK. The annoying things is that life is going to get tough for the jobless but then it's going to be as equally tough as those in work. There is going to be years of misery in this country thanks to the way the last few governments have spent money. And now it is going to be the average Joe on the street who is going to suffer thanks to the governments incompetence. The only positive for those who are unemployed is that their is no better time to explore their dreams and try and set themselves up in business. Because let's be honest there are no jobs out there and so what else are you going to do.
14 Nov 10
Oh I definitely agree that individuals need to take responsibility and live within their means, something which I will admit guilty of not doing at one time in my life. But unfortunately the culture in this country is now one of greed and no one is satisfied with what they have anymore, they have to have what the next person has got even if they are from a different social & wealth level and they believe it is their right to have it. You could say that the media has a lot to do with it because it keeps pushing on us over night success with no effort such as in the X-Factor and so the modern mass culture have the attitude of not working for something. The knock on effect of this is that even though they are not at a level of finanical success yet they feel it is their right that they should be, that life is unfair if you have to work towards something. The same extends to those who go off to university and think just because they get a degree it entitles them to a job, a better paid job than everyone else because they have accademic qualifications. Sorry, but lessons learnt from the text books can't compete with what you learn on the job. So basically at almost every level of society in the UK things are screwed up and sadly it will never ever change, it will just get worse. There endeth my rant for today.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
14 Nov 10
I agree with you, I really do. There are too many people who won't do what they should in order to get what they want..and they want everything NOW. If Graduate Boy at my John's work is anything to go by then God help us!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
Yes, the internet especially can be empowering for those who cannot find work outside their home and that will increase I would think as, like you say, jobs aren't available. Don't you think people themselves have been living beyond their means too, though? I admit that government and (especially) the banks take the blame but there are those who just won't accept they are working class and will get into debt to so-called "buy their dream home" and end up having to re-mortgage time and time again in order to stay in a house they shouldn't be in in the first place. Why can't they stay put? I remember I was given a loan OVER THE PHONE by RBS about 4 years ago. It was to pay for Christmas and I told them I'd be working soon. They believed me and I struggled to pay the loan off because I didn't get the job as I - subsequently got interviewed for. The banks were irresponsible in those days but now they are more the other way..won't give loans out at all! Not that I'm bothered but small businesses will be.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
13 Nov 10
I would have to say that being out of work definitely does have it's advantages as well. The whole situation of working, jobs, and economics is a lot of stress thrown on our shoulders and I would have to say that financial problems are easily the center of a lot of people's angst. Even when you have a job that you get close to 40 hours a week, you can still be struggling pretty badly with trying to pay all the bills and feed yourself and family as well. I was working pretty close to overtime during the summer and you do feel like you are kind of selling your time, and with some jobs you really have to feel like you are getting ripped, because it's in no way something that you feel is good for people,the world, or does your work bring you any closer to your dream or goals in life. That's why I am trying to go to college, I've been working at this restaurant for close to 3 years now and am still lucky to get 2 shifts a week. College is also pretty frustrating because it's so much money and I barely have any money because I have a crappy job. Only we can do is continue to hope for the better and enjoy the free time that we get to ourselves, so we can spend it doing what we want like spending time with friends and family.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
Gone are the days when one could go on free courses! A few years ago some courses were government-funded so I gained another qualification whilst being unemployed, plus I got a £10 training bonus on top of my Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Those were the days! Now, due to my hubby working full-time I can't even claim JSA plus he got working tax credits last year but now has to pay them back as he was "overpaid." The Inland Revenue have clawed back millions in this way and it's wrong. The country stinks, I hate living here now.
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
13 Nov 10
Yes, freedom. Another one, you'll be your own boss. Now that you are out of work, unemployed, you can now call yourself, "entrepreneur". Ted Turner, founder of CNN, was once quoted, "My son is now an "entrepreneur." That's what you're called when you don't have a job."
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
"Entrepeneur" I like the sound of that!
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@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
23 Nov 10
Well, things are starting to get BAD all over, and we are even seeing things like this happening here in the US. Places continue to cut back on certain areas making it harder for the rest to meet all the demands their job(s) entail. The biggest problem is they don't offer to pay more for those they keep either, so you really begin to wonder if they are really doing what is best. Does make it a little scary at times to where you never know where is your best option to turn.
@dodo19 (47121)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
13 Nov 10
It is true that being out of work does have it's advantage. Freedom being one of them. However, sometimes it's not as pleasant. Having work and bring in a paycheck is also nice to have. I'm sure that eventually there will be more jobs available.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
I suppose I'm trying to justify (to myself) being unemployed for so long. It's worse for my 20 year old nephew of course. I worry about his future more than mine, in so many ways. I agree with the money side of things too, I can't remember the last time I had loads of money in my account..long time ago.
• Canada
13 Nov 10
I do enjoy being a lady of leisure myself, but I also miss having my own money. It's kinda hard to get by on what my Honey gives me for spending money each week. Well . . . what he gives me and what I can skim off the top of the grocery money. Do you suppose embezzlement was invented by a wife? xoxo Cyne
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
Probably! Haha! I agree with you, having your own money is great. If I did have a job all the money would be mine, no way would I have a shared bank account. What's that all about?!
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
13 Nov 10
wow... here i am wishing i do not have to work anymore, to wake up early and experience the hustle of the crowd going home, or to get disappointed at the decisions the superiors make, or to deal with unbelievable people in the workforce. but i can't right now, son is still in college. but sometimes, i ponder if i can really take the situation where i will be unemployed and not be economically empowered. i have used to working and earning money for so long. i dread the time that i will feel useless. but knowing me, i will not make myself 'useless' even if i have to resign my regular job. all the best for your quest to find a favorable job..
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
Thank you! I know my Mum is nearing retirement but she doesn't want to retire, she wants to carry on as the kids at the school make her feel younger and every day is different (she is the boss in the school kitchen) and she's frightened that when all that goes she will become incredibly bored and restless. I can see her working somewhere like B&Q (that employs many people that have retired from previous jobs) and it's not far from where she lives!
• Philippines
13 Nov 10
one of the advantages of being out of work is you don't have to wake up early and go and beat the rush hour.you can wake up late.you can also try looking for home-based work you can online.you can catch up on things you missed because you are busy at the office.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Nov 10
I don't miss getting up early (especially in winter when it's dark) but if I was doing it still I wouldn't think twice about it, if that makes sense. At least I'd be getting paid which is the motivation for getting up early in the first place. Being at home is great as the freedom is immense but I don't get paid for my freedom..unfortunately!
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