The Layoff List » Tier 5 http://www.layofflist.org Unemployment, Economic and Political News and Opinion Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:10:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Resources for the long-term unemployed and 99ers http://www.layofflist.org/2011/06/22/resources-for-the-long-term-unemployed-and-99ers/ http://www.layofflist.org/2011/06/22/resources-for-the-long-term-unemployed-and-99ers/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:08:44 +0000 layofflist http://www.layofflist.org/?p=6418 Facebook member Pam Sexton organized a list of unemployed and 99er resources that may be beneficial to those who are looking for some assistance.

If you have any other links that you would like to add, please place them in the comments section or send a note to mike@layofflist.org.

Here is my list of 99er Unemployment Sites:

  • BegsList (Drowning in debt, struggling to make ends meet, terrified of being out of a job, currently unemployed, or worried about getting by in today’s economy?)
  • SNAP (Food Stamps)

Thank you, Pam, for putting this list together.

 

]]> http://www.layofflist.org/2011/06/22/resources-for-the-long-term-unemployed-and-99ers/feed/ 0 99er unemployment benefits extension bill introduced by Reps. Lee and Scott http://www.layofflist.org/2011/02/09/99er-unemployment-benefits-extension-bill-introduced-by-reps-lee-and-scott/ http://www.layofflist.org/2011/02/09/99er-unemployment-benefits-extension-bill-introduced-by-reps-lee-and-scott/#comments Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:17:03 +0000 layofflist http://www.layofflist.org/?p=6320 Today, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced the tentatively titled “Emergency Unemployment Compensation Expansion Act of 2011”.

Rep. Lee opened the press conference with the following statement:

“As we stand here today, millions of workers are experiencing a true state of emergency. Too many people at every level of experience and skills are out of work for longer than they ever imagined. These individuals are the backbone of our nation, our key to our economic recovery, but most importantly they deserve to live the American Dream also. But many of them today stand on the brink of financial ruin.”

Many long-term unemployed can certainly relate to that statement. Rep. Scott then made a statement which contained the following:

This legislation “would add 14 additional weeks of unemployment. Make that benefit available to all unemployed persons regardless of unemployment conditions in their state.

It is our hope that this bill will receive some necessary support to help those unemployed Americans most in need.

The overwhelming majority of those unemployed want a hand up, not a handout. They want a job.

The introduction of this legislation is no guarantee that it will actually pass, but we need to make sure we work as hard as we can to help those who are most in need.”

Standing in the background was Gregg Rosen of the American 99ers Union as well as a number of 99ers who made the trip to D.C. I don’t have any video of their interviews or statements at this time, but I’ll make those available as soon as they are released.

There was not a discussion about how the legislation would be funded, but that will have to be addressed in order for it to have any chance of moving forward.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) followed with an impassioned plea to help the long-term unemployed. She referred to the government not leaving behind the bankster class that robbed the US taxpayer of trillions of dollars and still received large compensation packages.

As mentioned yesterday, Rep. Lee’s office was asked what would be most helpful in moving this legislation forward, they said that the primary issue is making certain the legislation is brought to the House floor. As a result, it’s important that those supporting this legislative effort email representatives, especially Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor http://cantor.house.gov/, http://republicanleader.house.gov/Contact/, and ask them to bring the legislation to the floor. House Republicans control legislative procedures, so it’s vital that they be encouraged to move this legislation forward.

Many thanks to Lauren Victoria Burke of Crew of 42 for all of her efforts with covering this important topic.

Watch Gregg Rosen’s CNN interview:


The office of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. sent me the following statement from the congressman:

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., Floor Remarks, February 9, 2011

Mr. Speaker, the unemployment rate last month dropped from 9.4% to 9%.  But only 36,000 jobs were created.  Wow! 36,000 = .4%.

How did the rate drop so much with only 36,000 new jobs?

It’s an illusion.  If you’re chronically unemployed, and are considered to be not looking for a job, you don’t count as “unemployed.”  You fall out of the statistics.  So as more and more people are out of work for longer periods of time, they are literally left out of the system.  Houdini couldn’t have performed an illusion as clever as the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But shouldn’t a government of, by and for the people care about its most vulnerable in this economic climate?

I want to remind the government of the urgency of our economic situation.  Send me your resume and story at resumesforamerica@mail.house.gov.  I want to have your story entered into the Congressional record to remind Congress of the fierce urgency of now.

Mr. Speaker, stop the illusions.  The American people need jobs and they want to go to work.  We have too many Americans who are chronically unemployed, and we don’t count them anymore.  We need to do something about it now.

Rep. Jackson Jr. is continuing to highlight the plight of the long-term unemployed.

99ers. How many?

Yesterday I referred to the number of 99ers being tracked by the BLS and I reported that there were 1.4 million 99ers, or 10.7% of all unemployed. I contacted a BLS representative to find out the latest 99er figure and I was told that in January it increased more than 330,000 to 1,796,000:

The January 2011 showed 1,796,000 persons at 99 weeks or more, or 12.0 percent of the unemployed.  This figure is not seasonally adjusted.  As we discussed, January 2011 was the first month where we were able to get duration estimates beyond 99 weeks or 2 years.  (This did not affect the measurement of unemployment.)

Individuals provide answers to the following question:

“At the end of last week, how long had you been looking for work?”  If someone lost a job, and took a part-time job, they would be classified as “employed” during the time they held the part time job.  If they later left the part time job, and searched for a full time job, the answer for the duration of time spent looking for work would be the time since the last job.

Persons who answer that they are not currently looking for work would not be classified as unemployed, and they would not be asked the unemployment duration questions.  If they began to look for work again in subsequent months, they could very well respond that their duration of unemployment was longer than just the preceding month.

Put another way, in December 2010, (in a display of duration by single weeks) we found 55,000 persons with unemployment durations between 90 to 98 weeks, and 1,467,000 with durations of 99 weeks or more.  In January 2011, there were 1,796,000 persons reporting 99 weeks or more, a number that greatly exceeds the prior month’s 99 or more PLUS those near that level at 90 to 98 weeks.

The graph at Calculated Risk shows the potential upcoming boom in the 99er population during 2011. http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/12/here-come-99ers.html

This graph shows the change in payroll jobs each month. The peak job losses were in early 2009 – and 99 weeks is just under two years – so many of those people will be exhausting their benefits over the next few months.

The Daily List

Congress.org has a great media contact list:http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/ as does http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111

You can find your representatives contact information at: http://conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm, or at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt.

Please consider subscribing to Rochester Unemployment Examiner articles. This is a simple task of clicking on the Subscribe button above, which is located directly below the title of my post, and then entering your email address. When I add a new post, you will be notified at the email address you enter. You won’t receive any spam, just my posts. Thanks.

I’m looking for stories from people who have been rejected during the hiring process for being unemployed. Have you been the victim of a temp agency that won’t give you an interview because you are unemployed? Have you seen jobs ads for “employed only” or “unemployed need not apply”? Have you lost a chance at a job due to a poor credit score? Send your job rejection experiences to mike@layofflist.org.

You can also view my updates and new posts at Twitter: http://twitter.com/layofflist and Facebook

Huffington Post

Huffington Post is kind enough to give me a chance to post my work at their site. I hope to be able to spread the 99er word using their larger audience. You can see my efforts at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-thornton.

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]]> http://www.layofflist.org/2011/02/09/99er-unemployment-benefits-extension-bill-introduced-by-reps-lee-and-scott/feed/ 2 Barbara Lee: Introducing Bill To Provide Unemployment Benefits To Long-term unemployed and 99ers http://www.layofflist.org/2011/02/08/barbara-lee-introducing-bill-to-provide-unemployment-benefits-to-long-term-unemployed-and-99ers/ http://www.layofflist.org/2011/02/08/barbara-lee-introducing-bill-to-provide-unemployment-benefits-to-long-term-unemployed-and-99ers/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:41:33 +0000 layofflist http://www.layofflist.org/?p=6316 Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) sent out the following press release yesterday:

Lee and Scott to Stand with Economic Policy Institute and American 99ers Union; Unemployment Benefits More Stimulative to U.S. Economy than Millionaire Tax Giveaways

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressman Bobby Scott will join Gregg Rosen of the American 99ers Union and Dr. Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) to introduce The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Expansion Act, legislation to extend emergency benefits to long-term unemployed workers.  Many of these long-term unemployed workers, known as 99ers, have exhausted their benefits and need this assistance to support their families, make ends meet and contribute to our economy. The bill would provide 14 weeks of emergency unemployment benefits to people who have exhausted all their benefits and are still unemployed.

Not only is providing these benefits the right thing to do, but it is sound economic policy that will support our economic recovery.  Economic experts, like Dr. Shierolz from EPI, believe that extending these benefits will have a greater stimulative impact on our economy than handing unpaid-for tax giveaways to multi-millionaires.

WHO:             Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09)
Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03)
Gregg Rosen, Co-Founder, American 99ers Union
Dr. Heidi Shierholz, Economist, Economic Policy Institute

WHAT:            Press Conference

WHEN:           Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 9:45 a.m.
Any media with cameras are asked to pre-set at 9:15 a.m.

WHERE:        Capitol Visitors Center, HVC Room 200

Besides Gregg Rosen, co-founder of the American 99ers Union, a number of 99ers plan to attend the event and they may be interviewed by the main stream media following the introduction of the legislation. CNN and other media have been invited to the press conference.

When Rep. Lee’s office was asked what would be most helpful in moving this legislation forward, they said that the primary issue is making certain the legislation is brought to the House floor. As a result, it’s important that those supporting this legislative effort email representatives, especially Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor http://cantor.house.gov/, http://republicanleader.house.gov/Contact/, and ask them to bring the legislation to the floor. House Republicans control legislative procedures, so it’s vital that they be encouraged to move this legislation forward. Rep. Lee will further define these issues at tomorrow’s press conference.

Additional information about this legislative effort is also being provided by Crewof42.

American workers are enduring the worst jobs situation since the Great Depression and Lee + Scott will be challenging their colleagues as well as the prevailing “budget cutting” political winds to pass their bill.

Arthur Delaney of Huffington Post wrote about the proposed legislation:  House Dems To Reintroduce Longshot Bill For Long-Term Unemployed

Given Republican hostility to additional deficit spending — Lee’s office said the cost of the extra benefits would not be offset — the effort will likely amount to little more than a reminder that long-term unemployment persists even though much of the nation’s political discourse is focused on signs of economic recovery.

After speaking to Rep. Lee’s office they reaffirmed that there are no offsets currently, but Rep. Lee will discuss this further at the press conference. It’s obvious that if offsets are not proposed, House Republicans are not likely to consider the legislation seriously.

In the same article:

Heidi Shierholz, an economist with the progressive Economic Policy Institute who supports the legislation and will attend Wednesday’s press conference, said there’s no economic reason for benefits to stop at 99 weeks.

“There is no magic number of how long extensions should last,” she said. “There’s just nothing in the economic literature that says 99 weeks is the limit. It’s not like if we break the 100 barrier things are going to fall apart.”

99ers, how many?

There has been discussion about the actual number of 99ers that are in the unemployed population. Some have said that the number of 99ers is well below the 4-5 million often attributed to 99er advocates, including myself at times. The latest “official” estimates for Q4 2010 show that 10.7% of all unemployed, or 1.4 million have been unemployed for 99 weeks or longer. These official estimates are somewhat puzzling. Back in June 2010, the Washington Post estimated that there were 1.5 million 99ers. How that population has decreased over the past seven month sis somewhat odd, especially when looking at the increase of those unemployed by percentage since 2006:

The columns below are as follows:

Year and quarter, Total unemployed, Unemployed 99 weeks or longer, Percent of total unemployed

2006   7,001  233     3.3

2007   7,078  228     3.2

2008   8,924  271     3.0

2009   14,265632     4.4

2010 Q1 15,939        1,035  6.5

2010 Q2 14,621        1,391  9.5

2010 Q3 14,679        1,406  9.6

2010 Q4 14,061        1,504  10.7

As you can see, the number of workers unemployed for 99 weeks or longer is at a record 10.7%. These estimates don’t include those 99ers who have found some part-time work to try and get by, and I have been in contact with a few of those who are no longer considered 99ers. There are also those that have given up looking for work for more than a year who are no longer counted as unemployed. The “official” tabulation of 1.4 million 99ers is less than some have reported, but it’s also a best case scenario that ignores many other factors that would increase the 99er population substantially.

From an historical perspective, the number of people who have been unemployed for 99 weeks or longer is at record.

#99er Aid

I received the following note from Jason Tabrys of Examiner.com, who has been working on issues related to unemployment.

Forsaken by the United States Government and vilified by some, America’s long term unemployed, the 99ers, have strained to let their voices be heard.

On Tuesday February 15, 2011 at 8PM EST join us for #99erAID, a twitter chat designed to bring 99ers, 99er advocates, and journalists together to discuss the latest 99er news and strategy ideas for the growing, peaceful movement.

Once again that’s #99erAID on Tuesday February 15, 2011 at 8PM EST moderated by @99erAID (Examiner.com’s Jason Tabrys)

You can read more about that event at: 99ers Aid Twitter Event Announced for February 15, 2011 at 8PM EST

99er advocates working behind the scenes

Kim Doyle Willie is one of those unselfish people who are working diligently for social justice, including 99ers. Kelly Wiedemer wrote an article on Kim’s efforts at Advocate thanks CNN, raises awareness about hunger, homelessness & 99er issues

Get free resume advice and job search guidance

Phil Rosenberg hosts a number of online efforts that help the unemployed find new careers. Join him to discuss various employment related topics including:

Job Seekers – Get Job Search Questions Answered Live, tomorrow at Resume Revolution! Join us Tuesday, 2/8/11 at 7:00PM CST http://resumewebinar.com/

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Ted Rall offers the real job picture


The Daily List

Congress.org has a great media contact list:http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/ as does http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111

You can find your representatives contact information at: http://conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm, or at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt.

Please consider subscribing to Rochester Unemployment Examiner articles. This is a simple task of clicking on the Subscribe button above, which is located directly below the title of my post, and then entering your email address. When I add a new post, you will be notified at the email address you enter. You won’t receive any spam, just my posts. Thanks.

I’m looking for stories from people who have been rejected during the hiring process for being unemployed. Have you been the victim of a temp agency that won’t give you an interview because you are unemployed? Have you seen jobs ads for “employed only” or “unemployed need not apply”? Have you lost a chance at a job due to a poor credit score? Send your job rejection experiences to mike@layofflist.org.

You can also view my updates and new posts at Twitter: http://twitter.com/layofflist and Facebook

Huffington Post

Huffington Post is kind enough to give me a chance to post my work at their site. I hope to be able to spread the 99er word using their larger audience. You can see my efforts at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-thornton.

]]> http://www.layofflist.org/2011/02/08/barbara-lee-introducing-bill-to-provide-unemployment-benefits-to-long-term-unemployed-and-99ers/feed/ 3 Letters From 99ers and The Long-term Unemployed Pleading for Help http://www.layofflist.org/2011/01/26/letters-from-99ers-and-the-long-term-unemployed-pleading-for-help/ http://www.layofflist.org/2011/01/26/letters-from-99ers-and-the-long-term-unemployed-pleading-for-help/#comments Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:20:34 +0000 layofflist http://www.layofflist.org/?p=6292 Letters from those affected by a tragedy often have more impact than simply discussing the facts and data associated with the tragedy. That’s the case with the tragic consequences of long term unemployment.  While statistics and data illustrate how long-term unemployment shatters confidence, destroys finances and disrupts family stability, those suffering the wrath of long-term unemployment can best describe its effects.

I receive letters from the long-term unemployed, which highlight the desperate straits faced by those abandoned by the jobs market, the social safety net and Congress. Some letters are lengthy and others are one or two sentences. All of the letters ask the same questions; will the long-term unemployed be helped or will they lose everything they have worked for all their lives and where are the jobs? A few of those letters follow.

I am a resident of San Antonio, TX.  I have been unemployed since December 31 2008, the title company I was working for filed bankrupt out of no fault of my own I was laid-off. I received unemployment benefits from Jan. 2009 till Jun. 2010. I didn’t receive all 99 weeks of unemployment. I called TWC in Austin and I was told that I had used all by benefits but to keep filing my work searches in case another extension was approved. The extension was approved and I then was told that I did not qualify for that extension, so what happened to the rest of my weeks?

I am 54 years of age and been trying very hard to find a job but have had no luck. Some places say they don’t discriminate from age, sex, or race, but they do. I have worked many years of my life to know that they do discriminate. Back in June I lost my unemployment, in July I lost my mother, and in August I lost my apartment. The only thing I have left is my car and I’m about to lose that too this month. I don’t know what else to do, I feel like we are left out in cold in the middle of nowhere all alone and nobody can hears us. Thank You!!   E. S.

The following letter shows how even the best qualified individuals can come up short in the job hunt due to discriminatory hiring practices.

My story I’m sure reads like millions out there struggling to get back to prosperity.  However, right now the thought of self worth and regaining my dignity while putting food on the table for my family through my efforts is a dream come true.

Not only do I send out hundreds of resumes, I have exhausted my sphere of influence to obtain my goals of employment.  I have been fortunate enough to obtain several phone interviews and even a few 2nd interviews in person.  There have been 3 occasions that I was the final candidate for the position and even received 2 verbal offers!  I was excited that I finally found work again……then I was notified that they were unable to offer me the position because of my recent credit history.  Humiliated, I sent an explanation letter with my tail between my legs explaining my circumstances of loss of income but apparently they fell on deaf ears and once again my value and self worth is lowered and my confidence is shattered.

As millions of other good Americans, I have run into brick wall after brick wall watching peers move from one company to another but I cannot get a look due to the fact I have been unemployed for over a year.  With the facts that I am currently unemployed, I’m 42 years old and my credit is now poor, I wonder if I will ever find employment.

Concerned and Lost C.H.

I find deplorable that banks and businesses can scam the US taxpayer out of billions of dollars and then receive million dollar bonuses, but if an individual finds it difficult to keep a great credit score during a Great Recession, they are penalized. I have not seen one crooked, corrupt; swindler bankster discriminated against for nearly destroying the American economy.

This next letter is a cry for help and I hope someone is listening:

I am a divorced 47-year-old woman.  I don’t know if my government is hoping people like me will just die off or like a lot of people commit suicide or something.  I am being penalized for trying to work.

I have been just barely hanging on. I did not get the unemployment extension because I tried to work at Temporary Agencies.  When I spoke to the unemployment people in the past I was told that with the three temp agencies I had enough time to get on the new extension.  Now last week they are saying no I cannot.  The girl at the unemployment back in September noted that I had a notice of hire.  I told her that I was hired by the Washoe County Coroners Office only on a temporary basis while their girl is out on vacation.  She said she would note that on the notes.   I only worked for them from September 29 to October 6 2010 and only 26 hours.   I will not work for them again till Maybe March a few days and May a few days of 2011.  She assured me that I would still get benefits.  I am being penalized for trying to work.

I try to work for temp agencies so at least I have my foot in the door and possibly get a job.  I am not lazy.  My days for the four temp agencies I worked for should be my extension.  Please help me.  I called the unemployment office on 01/12/11, and they said i have benefits. Today I noticed I have a code on my payment status.  I called again today 01/13/11, and they say that I am not eligible until I have twenty weeks.  Where am I going to get 20 weeks?

I have asked on Craig’s list for food, I have nothing not even a penny.  The unemployment says that I don’t have a chance with the appeal.  Since I have been unemployed I have been to the mental health here in Carson City because I have been so depressed and do not want to lose my mind. I am trying my best, but I feel like my government expects me to just die somewhere now.  Please help me.

Every month it was questionable if I would be able to keep my car insurance because of affordability.  I finally could not pay.  I had to choose between food or insurance.  Because of this my driver’s license is suspended.  I cannot afford to pay the 250.00. When I apply for a job they see the suspension and do not want to hire me.  I am trying my hardest to work to get my foot in the door anywhere and now I am penalized for this.

I have worked since I was 16 years old.  I thought we are supposed to try and work!  What am I supposed to do now? This is my daughter’s senior year in high school and it is supposed to be special. I cannot afford anything for her, not even her senior pictures or gown.  I am trying to write to everybody because I am just barely hanging in there.  I am trying so hard not to be homeless please help me with this.  I am not a throw away, I am an American Citizen. R.F.

I responded to all letters and offered some suggestions, but these issues need to be addressed by a competent unemployment system, fortified social services, non-discriminatory hiring practices and a Congress willing to show some humanity and consideration to the millions of long-term unemployed. As of this writing, none of those situations exists, but the pain suffering continues unabated. As R.F. cried out, she and the other long-term unemployed are not throw-aways, they are American citizens. Treat them as such.

]]> http://www.layofflist.org/2011/01/26/letters-from-99ers-and-the-long-term-unemployed-pleading-for-help/feed/ 10 99er, Kerry Tierney, shares a story of disappointment, frustration, fear… and hope for a better tomorrow http://www.layofflist.org/2010/12/30/a-99er-shares-her-story-of-disappointment-frustration-fear-of-homelessness-and-her-hope-for-a-better-tomorrow/ http://www.layofflist.org/2010/12/30/a-99er-shares-her-story-of-disappointment-frustration-fear-of-homelessness-and-her-hope-for-a-better-tomorrow/#comments Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:00:04 +0000 layofflist http://www.layofflist.org/?p=6274 The story that follows is the partial story of 99er and registered nurse, Kerry Tierney. The first part of this story can be seen at Unemployment Examiner: 99er Kerry Tierney shares a story of disappointment, frustration, fear and hope

In a follow-up letter Kerry expanded on her situation regarding job leads and how a registered nurse may not be in demand.

Times are most very difficult right now, my 14 year old daughter keeps bringing up the homeless shelter, and I believe deep down inside she is terrified of us ending up there.  To be honest, so am I.  I don’t have any other options up my sleeve, and have written the government until my fingertips hurt.  Sometimes for up to 14 hours a day I have sent emails to Congress, the Ways and Means Committee, and so forth.  They keep telling me it will take “time.”  Time is the one thing that is not currently on our side, especially with the landlord breathing down our necks.  I saw a news blurb today about the government potentially helping Americans out with their mortgages, but nothing in that piece about persons who rent apartments. There used to be a thing known as Section 8 in Illinois, but that has been closed, with no word of it ever opening up again.  Section 8 might have been an option for us.  I have also looked into federal grants – nothing available there either for rentals.

As far as  me being a registered nurse and out of work, I believe part of the mystery lies in my age.  I am almost 50, have been out of work for over 2 years, and potential employers are hesitant to hire me.  I have NOT gotten one phone call or email from a potential employer for an RN position since I began my search almost 2 1/2 years ago!  Not one!  How odd?  I do not understand it either.  My educated guess would be that the employers are hiring new graduates, so they can pay them less and have to earn their benefits (health insurance, etc.) after 90 days employment.  Just a guess.  I have heard the same thing from other nurses as well.  In Illinois, it seems we are at a total stand still with jobs.  My only other guess would be that people are working 2 and 3 jobs, leaving none for the others that are still searching?

I did get a nibble of an invitation, on Dec 23, 2010 for a possible medical transcription position opening up recruiting in Jan of 2011.  I sent my resume and am waiting to hear back from them.  I just finished my MT (medical transcription) course in Oct of 2010. No experience equals no job. Oh, do you wanna hear another kicker?  My MT instructor, upon completion of my course, wrote me an email saying that and I quote, “most employers will not hire retired or disabled nurses as medical transcriptionists” because “they are notoriously bad spellers.”  She went on to say that one employer posted on her site, “if you are a nurse do not even bother to apply!”  Can you imagine my shock upon reading this?  Why did she not bother to tell me this PRIOR to my taking the MT course?  I think I know the answer to this, for the money, of course!  I have not given up hope however, I just keep on looking – in spite of what she had to say.

I am stumped however, with 2 degrees from college, I should be able to find ONE job!?  In October of 2011, I will be able to drive a school bus again, like I did back in college.  I have to wait because the State has to pass you – some kind of driving release.  I am ineligible for this job because I had some financial problems 2 1/2 years ago, could not afford my car insurance for 2 months, so I had to apply for SR 22 because I was driving on a suspended license and had no idea!  Anyway, I will be able to drive the bus again in approximately 10 months.  I have never had any tickets, accidents, DUI’s, nothing on my driver’s license – except for that one instance.  I have applied for some local driving jobs…but nothing yet.

These are basically the three things I know how to do for work.  I have experience with nursing and driving, but no MT experience (outside of college).  I will work hard, and try to give any potential employer my best effort.  The ideal job would be to work in the transcription field, either from an office or from home.  I am still looking Mike, every day.  I know something will turn up.  It has to!  I want to work so much!  I want to earn a paycheck again.  I want to be able to provide for my daughter and myself.  I always thought that by becoming a nurse, I would be set for life, but I am finding that this is not the case.

I asked Kerry to send me her resume to post here. If you are aware of anyone who may be interested in hiring Kerry or helping out her family during this difficult period, please send her a note.

Kerry Tierney

•   Naperville, IL                          • Email Address:    Tierneykkt@att.net

ͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼͼ

Objective: To continue in the practice of my profession where I can be of constructive help in

accordance with my background, training, and experience.

Work History:

2008 to Present      Attended school for Medical Transcription Certificate Program.

2006-2008              Nightingale Home Healthcare, Burr Ridge, IL

Home Health RN – RN case manager performed home visits throughout Chicago and

suburbs; admissions, labs, record keeping, and patient care.

2005-2006             Maxim for Healthcare Services, Naperville, IL

Agency RN      – Performed patient care at various hospitals, LTC’s, MD offices,

etc.; also cared for 11-year-old child with trach and G-tube.

2002-2004             Health Systems of Illinois, Lombard, IL

Utilization Review Case Manager – Performed telephonic chart review for Illinois

Department of Public Aid, utilized ICD-9 codes.

1999-2000             Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, IL

Pre-Admission RN – Interviewed patients prior to procedure for Anesthesiology

Department; worked directly with Anesthesiologists.

1996-1999             Delnor Community Hospital, Geneva, IL

Same-Day Surgery RN – Post Surgical Unit RN – Patient care for pre and post

surgery, and med/surg patient care; also charge nurse duties.

1990-1995             Mercy Center for Healthcare Services, Aurora, IL

Hematology/Oncology– Infectious Disease – Post Surgical Unit RN

Administered Chemotherapy, med/surg patient care: also charge

nurse duties; served 2 years on Unit Advisory Committee focused

on QA; became certified in Oncology; assisted unit manager

with candidate interviews.

Education: 2009-2010             Waubonsee Community College, Aurora, IL

Medical Transcription Certificate Program

1987-1990             College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL

Associate Degree in Nursing, Dean’s list, Honor Student 4.0 GPA

References: Available upon request.

Educated, talented, dedicated professionals of all types are having a difficult time finding work. This is not for a lack of effort. The employment situation in the US is not designed to help the millions of long-term unemployed reenter the workforce. Limited retraining opportunities, as in Kelly’s case, poor credit scores, length of time unemployed and age all factor into a deteriorating jobs picture for the long-term unemployed.

Now that the president and Congress have addressed the needs of the wealthy and the connected, it’s time to address the needs of the long-term unemployed. American cannot get back on track unless Americans are able to get back to work.

Wishing you all a prosperous 2011.

Do you have a story you’d like to tell? were you rejected during the hiring process for being unemployed. Have you been the victim of a temp agency that won’t give you an interview because you are unemployed? Have you seen jobs ads for “employed only” or “unemployed need not apply”? Have you lost a chance at a job due to a poor credit score? Send your job rejection experiences and unemployment stories to mike@layofflist.org.

You can also view my updates and new posts at Twitter: http://twitter.com/layofflist

Huffington Post

Huffington Post is kind enough to give me a chance to post my work at their site. I hope to be able to spread the 99er word using their larger audience. You can see my efforts at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-thornton.


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