Great news: Georgia unemployed get to work for FREE!!! (collect, file, qualify)

[roncorey1]

More great news for working people.

Should Unemployed People Work for Free | Parade.com

Once again, corporations and the governments of anti-labor states work together to lower wages and benefits expectations under the guise of "job training" and "saving money"!

Is N.C. next??

[antiquesmountainapache]

I hope North Carolina is not next. I am a Georgia native and was knocked speechless when I heard about Georgia Works. Also, you may not participate in the program if you do not draw unemployment. This information came directly from a Georgia Career Center employee.

[ReturningWest]

BTW the Georgia Works program is only for those on first and maybe second tier UI....I tried to get on but in my area YOU have to find the potential employer who will let you work 20 hours a week at a job...it's kinda like try me before you buy me, however, the jobs I was applying to were not interested in any part timers.
Also the Experience Works program is dead in the water, I was called last week about it after I had signed up months ago and the GDOL person told me this program is on hold as they can't find any employers to put you with.

[antiquesmountainapache]

Thanks for the information. I'm going to briefly share what I learned from the Labor Department so others won't waste time on this. I spoke with a representative downtown who gloriously extolled the benefits of the innovative program. After a minute to collect my thoughts, I asked him if there was a list of participating employers. The DOL employee hedged and at first stated that it would be "a fantastic strategy to jump start a job search" and I could just walk up to the prospective employeers and ask them (similar to what you were told). Then he backpeddled and said the Career Center had a list and he would make an appointment for me. I gave him my information and ended the call. A few days later, a most distressed Career Center employee called wanting to know what on earth I was doing requesting such an appointment (imagine that, an unemployed person trying to utilize a program listed on the DOL website! How nervy of me! LOL). This is when I learned of the unemployment list qualification. I have a suggestion -- why don't we just take what few jobs are available and sell lottery tickets for them? They could add the "new game" right on with the others and I wouldn't feel like I have to spend every waking minute hunting the few pitiful opportunities. Have a good week, everyone.

[7 Wishes]

I'm torn about this program. On one hand, I think it is a win-win on cost savings, something our country and society sorely needs, but without a major social cost. I also think it could help eliminate the stigma that sometimes exists even today about employers being prejudcial against the long-term unemployed. This is a different era from the 1930s, a different recession from any other, and a global economy and we need to do everything we can to get people working again without it being something that in the long term actually negates job growth.

On the other hand, I too fear the potential for abuse. The biggest one I can see is too many employers NOT hiring these people after 6 months and it essentially becoming corporate welfare to business where government deals with payroll for them. Then it just makes the people who did the job in worse shape, now they're long-term unemployed with NO safety net. All these people complain on the right that what we've been doing is "socialism", well this would be socialism to the full; everyone gets essentially the same pay, adjusted and paid for by the government, with no "merit pay".

Originally Posted by ReturningWest

BTW the Georgia Works program is only for those on first and maybe second tier UI....I tried to get on but in my area YOU have to find the potential employer who will let you work 20 hours a week at a job...it's kinda like try me before you buy me, however, the jobs I was applying to were not interested in any part timers.
Also the Experience Works program is dead in the water, I was called last week about it after I had signed up months ago and the GDOL person told me this program is on hold as they can't find any employers to put you with.

That's my other issue with this. That's why workfare (which I think is a fantastic idea) has essentially failed. When they don't have employers to match everyone with, how do you decide who gets "work" and who doesn't (and I guess except for the cost savings as an incentive, if there were enough then we wouldn't have unemployment )

[GloryB]

The whole concept sounded asinine....until I read the posted article. If the government is providing unemployment pay PLUS transportation, day care, etc. costs for people wanting to work, then I could see where this could be a great opportunity to people looking for jobs.

More than just job skills, it is great for an employer to see what candidates actually bother to show up for work ON TIME and don't miss work all the time for trivial things.

This would be my question:
Since unemployment pay does not qualify a person to be able to get Earned Income Credit on their taxes, would this 'earned unemployment pay' change that status and allow these people to file for the additional tax money?
This is what the REAL benefit would be in this program.... if it changed the tax status for the people who showed the willingness to work.

[antiquesmountainapache]

I was told by the DOL employee that the maximum stipend was $50.00 weekly. No offense to you, Glory B, but the employer is welcome to check my references to see if I show up to work on time, don't miss work all of the time, etc.