>>I got laid off 5 months ago and got a really nice severance and, for the first time in my life, am drawing a small unemployment check. Only because it was offered.<<
A small side note. Unemployment is INSURANCE. You paid into it and deserve the results of invoking the policy, head held high.
It is when the legislatures override the original contract and insist that payments continue beyond the contract term that UI is a problem.
No, technically I did not pay into the UI program. I live in Tennessee and the state does not tax the worker, only the employer.
And it’s one of the lowest rates and tax bases in the country which is why we have more employers.
They did up the base and increase the rates a couple of years ago when the so-called fund was, on the fake books, running out. Cost our hotel a retro tax of about $30K. Enough to hire a new assistant mangager in some department.
So the company paid the tax but under the law are liable for eliminating my job. They did “offer” another but more hours and less money wasn’t worth it. Thankfully it’s just a perk and not a necessity.