Last week I wrote about being funemployed and some considerations before pursuing that route. Now I want to discuss a far more sinister issue, the impact to employment insurance.
Whats the beef ?
Unemployment Insurance is a social program established in order to help people who have lost their job and not a means to fund an extended vacation. Now like any other social program it is open for abuse and that abuse is built into the system. However this thought of being funemployed is a new breed of abuse. It is one that can put substantial strain on unemployment insurance program.
Whats different about funemployment?
Here you have well educated people who have the job skills to find new work but decide not to. It seems as though its become socially accepted and even trendy to fleece the system in this way. When things become trendy they have a tendency to pick up steam and the system will not be able to handle such a large influx of people. This is just another example of a new generation carrying around a sense of entitlement. They don’t seem to realize because something is there that doesn’t me you should take it.
If this kind of attitude continues it will be the end of a lot of social programs and a lot of people will suffer. It’s sad to say but it appears that in order for society to fix itself it may have to venture back into the dark ages in order to spur on a new era of enlightenment.
Do you think having this sort of action become socially acceptable will have on impact on the future?
-mfd-
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve heard of some job-loss counsellors even suggesting it! Not a good idea in my opinion. That is just an opinion because thankfully it’s a long time since I was laid-off. However I do know several people that lost their jobs in the last year or two.
It’s soul destroying but you have to take on the mindset that you’ve just started a new job. That job is to find a job and to spend 7 hours a day working on job hunting. Even if you don’t choose funemployment, it is too easy to get caught up in chores/jobs around the house – guilt-free procrastination. “Starting your own business” is another distractor unless you can immediately bring in real income from it. In that case was employment a cost-effective use of your time and why didn’t you quit already?
@mike – It’s not surprising that this is passing as “good” advice now a days. I got laid off once and I understand how easy it is to become complacent and turn into a big blob on the couch. I can only imagine how these people must feel trying to get our of this rut after being off for 1+ years. You are right in that people need to treat their job search as a job because thats the only way they’ll stay motivated.
You can be unemployed and make a lot of money through your own projects including websites. The financial crisis has fueled a small surge in people starting up websites for the sole purpose of generating revenue from adverts.
@Arron – Oh yes for sure people can take advantage of a job change to start their own business. However the funemployed seem to take the opportunity to “find themselves” (traveling, playing golf, sleeping , etc) while being funded by their unemployment insurance.
Interesting that I should come across this. I fully intend to take some time off, but I’m not going to ask everyone else to pay for it. Instead, I’ve been trying to build up a massive investment portfolio. Personally, I hate when people abuse programs for helping out. I used to live with people who bought a big tv using EI. There was also what I would consider abuse of the foodbank. At least I could see no reason why they would be unable to bring home enough money to feed themselves during the time that I was also living there. I suppose the food bank’s criteria said differently.
What the world is coming to troubles me considerably.
Funemployment isn’t a new concept. In fact, I’ve been funemployed since 1998…nearly 11 years. I’ve done everything I can possibly think that would be considered a sense of entitlement including attending the State University of the taxpayer’s dime…getting two degrees and living off the excess funds. I’ve taken a few temp jobs and when I got enough money…I’d quit. My family has financed exotic travel for myself and a friend through multiple refinanced mortgages based upon need. In fact, I’ve gotten more funemployment monies from being a low-income/no-income needy person on student welfare. But, I don’t feel guilty…I just think I’m owed that money.
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