We had an absolutely lovely dinner party last night with some very good friends, people who we love dearly but are scattered across three states, and getting everybody together in person is nearly impossible. It was incredibly refreshing, and although the first hour was mostly spent figuring out how to use Zoom on our various devices, we stayed online until almost 11pm laughing and telling stories like we were all in the same room. Definitely want to continue doing that.
With high unemployment, it will be a buyers market, and we've already seen how corporations exploit that kind of situation a decade ago.hopefully, stronger labor class unity.
Had a conversation about "Essential vs. Non-essential" and what I'm taking away from this is exactly this.
My life before was always looking at the time, rushing... stressed. Constantly looking at my calendar full of meetings and appointments and family obligations. Teaching martial arts on Monday... but also looking at my phone for work related stuff and missing phone calls and more rushing and sitting in traffic...
And boom. It all stopped.
I have had one of the most successful and productive months in my career, all working from home. My wife and my step son are doing art and home schooling. I've mastered the portable, DIY, boxing/martial arts workout I take to a secluded area of a local park away from everyone. I get to watch TV for hours with the wife at night, and we aren't stressed about having to wake up at the crack of dawn to be rushed to our business affairs.
We've been cooking at home - beautiful meals - and our bank account has barely moved, since we both aren't buying gas for business related travel. My wife told me this morning she's saving a ton of money not having to get her hair and nails done - this was part of dressing up for her business. No need right now.
My clients are happy with video conferencing, and they appreciate it. When we meet, we are quick and pragmatic and right to business. It feels oddly organic and personable.
My wife and I have been able to break down the essential aspects of our life - what really is needed to live, thrive and be happy. I've discovered, it doesn't require me to sit in 2 hours of traffic, stressed, drinking huge amounts of caffeine because I'm so exhausted from the rat race. It didn't require us to be always looking at the clock, and syncing calendars of who is going to pick up the boy from school that day and conflicting meetings and appointments...
We've narrowed down to what is important and essential, and scrubbed away what wasn't. We didn't need to live that rat race - to live.
I hope others have experienced this.
I do miss my parents (who I call nearly everyday) and I miss my karate students and martial arts training partners. This is part of the whole thing that has made me kinda sad.
With high unemployment, it will be a buyers market, and we've already seen how corporations exploit that kind of situation a decade ago.
Pandemics tend to have a disproportionate impact on the poorest in society - who also happen to be the workers who make and harvest stuff. So post pandemic societies tend to have a surplus of slave masters but a shortage of galley slaves.With high unemployment, it will be a buyers market, and we've already seen how corporations exploit that kind of situation a decade ago.
Don't forget what happened at the end of the 20's.Pandemics tend to have a disproportionate impact on the poorest in society - who also happen to be the workers who make and harvest stuff. So post pandemic societies tend to have a surplus of slave masters but a shortage of galley slaves.
After the great plagues of the dark ages, it quickly became a supplier's market as the supply of food and trade goods dried up. That ended the feudal system, bankrupted the European aristocracy and opened up land ownership for the common man.
The Spanish flu possibly had a similar effect. It certainly ended WWI and the combined labor shortages of both contributed to a boom for the survivors in the roaring 20's.
Don't forget what happened at the end of the 20's.
Or they're counting on 4 months of full pay through unemployment....they might be a long time waiting for it.What I've found interesting is that with all the shops that have laid off mechanics, we're not getting an influx of applications to our open mechanic and supervisor positions. Either mechanics that need work either don't realize we're still open and working normally (unlikely), or they're afraid of working on our equipment. :laughing
What I've found interesting is that with all the shops that have laid off mechanics, we're not getting an influx of applications to our open mechanic and supervisor positions. Either mechanics that need work either don't realize we're still open and working normally (unlikely), or they're afraid of working on our equipment. :laughing
Or they're counting on 4 months of full pay through unemployment....they might be a long time waiting for it.
I’m furloughed for the month. Maybe more...who knows. I was actually doing some interviews for a few places and was ready for the next stage in the gauntlet with all those companies, then the shutdown happened. Now everything is frozen.
I’ve already filed for the UI. If the federal bump gets it up to $1050 a week, that ain’t bad. It’s still less than what I get normally but it’s good enough and honestly, I am fine no matter what on that front. But $1050 to some of the guys in my crew? That’s more than they make now. So I don’t see them rushing out to find another job anytime soon. I was thinking about quitting anyways, but I want to get a new job on my terms. Six weeks ago, I had recruiters wooing me, and I had some leverage. I feel like now I’d get bent over a barrel to just try and get a job anywhere.
So long story short, I’m waiting it out.
Considering what our industry pays, they'd be doing themselves a disservice if they chose that route. :dunno
First I had heard they were going to bump it to $1050 a week...but you'd still have to qualify for that amount and honestly, if the rules haven't changed, you'd have to make quite a bit of coin to qualify for the highest payout from UI benefits.
To be fair, a lot of HR managers have been completely caught off-guard and unprepared for all this kind of stuff. It's not like it happens all the time and they've been able to experience it in more junior roles in the past. Hell, they can't even really train you for this kind of stuff anymore since the only real examples they have date back over 100 years.
Hope everyone has a small patch of dirt to grow food.