Temporary Unemployment: The COVID-19/Coronavirus Version

brianlux

deadendp said:

Just checking in. Has anyone who is unemployed by COVID-19 heard of a return date yet?

I got a text saying no May 1st. Then the governor announced general retail could reopen May 12th. I haven't heard whether we will be called back or when, but they have confirmed that they will be putting up customer plexi for us. 

The gallery was requiring prior to the governor that all employees wear masks. The governor initially stated that anyone in any store (employee or customer) would have to wear a mask, but he has since backpedaled stating only employees and employers are required. They ask that the public wear them, but you know many won't.  

My husband starts returning to in-building work next week. 2 days in, 3 days work-from-home. All of his park programming is canceled through May and possibly further out. All camps he does for kids in the summer are also canceled. 

That leaves our 16 year old. She is distance learning through the end of May, but since camps she taught for/with my husband are canceled and the opportunity to work are shot for now, we are considering just having her belt out a few classes online over the summer. She's going to be home anyhow, so she might as well get something accomplished. Her high school offers some online coursework, so she is checking into that this week. 

Here in California, Governor Newsom has said some restrictions (I think meaning some retail) will be lifted in, as he said, "weeks, not months".  That won't help me, unfortunately.  Considering my age and my compromised immune system, I won't feel confident about going back to work until there is a vaccine.  I hate not having a job but I'm not to keen on dying just yet so the choice, much as it sucks, is obvious. 

I hope many of you will be able to resume work and stay well.  I don't want to lose any of you!

deadendp

Got the text calling me back on June 15. They aren't calling everyone back right away. 

Amantria

My layoff is permanent, happened just over two weeks ago.   I was upset for a couple of days but realize it's for the best.  I worked for a scummy division within a large national company for seven years, that in the end showed true to what I've known for several years now- it was run like a high school clique of "cool kids"  with no loyalty or respect.   For two weeks now I've been spending time with my two young boys and appreciating almost every minute of it (when they're being difficult).   We are a jobless household now, but thankfully we have some savings which can tide us over.  Not everyone has that, so I'm thankful for the situation I'm in.

Just wanted to share...so many people are/will be affected by this, and I hope we all see it through to the other side as better, stronger people.

deadendp

Amantria said:

My layoff is permanent, happened just over two weeks ago.   I was upset for a couple of days but realize it's for the best.  I worked for a scummy division within a large national company for seven years, that in the end showed true to what I've known for several years now- it was run like a high school clique of "cool kids"  with no loyalty or respect.   For two weeks now I've been spending time with my two young boys and appreciating almost every minute of it (when they're being difficult).   We are a jobless household now, but thankfully we have some savings which can tide us over.  Not everyone has that, so I'm thankful for the situation I'm in.

Just wanted to share...so many people are/will be affected by this, and I hope we all see it through to the other side as better, stronger people.

I'm sorry to hear about the change of employment status, but glad that it is a better thing for you. So glad you have savings as a back-up.

I thank you for sharing your story. Not  everyone is going to be called back. People need to remember that. 

So glad that you are taking this as a positive in regard to some great time to spend with your sons. 

Hoping that you are able to replace your job with one better at treating all coworkers well. 

The best of all good positive energy to you and your people.  

Amantria

deadendp said:

Amantria said:

My layoff is permanent, happened just over two weeks ago.   I was upset for a couple of days but realize it's for the best.  I worked for a scummy division within a large national company for seven years, that in the end showed true to what I've known for several years now- it was run like a high school clique of "cool kids"  with no loyalty or respect.   For two weeks now I've been spending time with my two young boys and appreciating almost every minute of it (when they're being difficult).   We are a jobless household now, but thankfully we have some savings which can tide us over.  Not everyone has that, so I'm thankful for the situation I'm in.

Just wanted to share...so many people are/will be affected by this, and I hope we all see it through to the other side as better, stronger people.

I'm sorry to hear about the change of employment status, but glad that it is a better thing for you. So glad you have savings as a back-up.

I thank you for sharing your story. Not  everyone is going to be called back. People need to remember that. 

So glad that you are taking this as a positive in regard to some great time to spend with your sons. 

Hoping that you are able to replace your job with one better at treating all coworkers well. 

The best of all good positive energy to you and your people.  

Thank you.  I appreciate the support.  Thankfully I have a few options, and the time to make the decision.  Hoping to see updates as to how everyone else here is doing.  I hope you all have a great week!

eeriepadave

Our store is re-opening on Friday. Unfortunately only department managers and a few part timers will be available. We are limited in payroll and hours for now.

deadendp

eeriepadave said:

Our store is re-opening on Friday. Unfortunately only department managers and a few part timers will be available. We are limited in payroll and hours for now.

So you are still hanging home then? 

We are bringing back a step above a skeleton crew. I think they are re-evaluating staffing needs every two weeks. I clarified safety plans with management. We do have plexi guards. They will have all incoming custoner traffic come through our main door in order to keep a head count. I have asked for the store to be cleaned before we return. I scrubbed everything before I left on 3/18, but we will have been closed for almost three months. I cannot scrub the store down in an hour or hope to do it during the day on the day we reopen. I think we will be busy. Others disagree. Who knows? 

dankind

deadendp said:

eeriepadave said:

Our store is re-opening on Friday. Unfortunately only department managers and a few part timers will be available. We are limited in payroll and hours for now.

So you are still hanging home then? 

We are bringing back a step above a skeleton crew. I think they are re-evaluating staffing needs every two weeks. I clarified safety plans with management. We do have plexi guards. They will have all incoming custoner traffic come through our main door in order to keep a head count. I have asked for the store to be cleaned before we return. I scrubbed everything before I left on 3/18, but we will have been closed for almost three months. I cannot scrub the store down in an hour or hope to do it during the day on the day we reopen. I think we will be busy. Others disagree. Who knows? 

If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean, @deadendp !

deadendp

dankind said:

deadendp said:

eeriepadave said:

Our store is re-opening on Friday. Unfortunately only department managers and a few part timers will be available. We are limited in payroll and hours for now.

So you are still hanging home then? 

We are bringing back a step above a skeleton crew. I think they are re-evaluating staffing needs every two weeks. I clarified safety plans with management. We do have plexi guards. They will have all incoming custoner traffic come through our main door in order to keep a head count. I have asked for the store to be cleaned before we return. I scrubbed everything before I left on 3/18, but we will have been closed for almost three months. I cannot scrub the store down in an hour or hope to do it during the day on the day we reopen. I think we will be busy. Others disagree. Who knows? 

If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean, @deadendp !

Agreed!

deadendp

Today ended my nearly 3 months of unemployment. (That would be me in front and my coworker Halle on the other side of the plexi.) A very weird new way of being. 

oftenreading

deadendp said:

Today ended my nearly 3 months of unemployment. (That would be me in front and my coworker Halle on the other side of the plexi.) A very weird new way of being. 

Welcome back to work, Amy! I hope it was a good day, even if weird. 

hedonist

oftenreading said:

deadendp said:

Today ended my nearly 3 months of unemployment. (That would be me in front and my coworker Halle on the other side of the plexi.) A very weird new way of being. 

Welcome back to work, Amy! I hope it was a good day, even if weird. 

Well, she IS wearing a dotty mask

F Me In The Brain

Yeah Amy!!!

GlowGirl

deadendp said:

Today ended my nearly 3 months of unemployment. (That would be me in front and my coworker Halle on the other side of the plexi.) A very weird new way of being. 

Welcome back to the working world. Cute mask. Definitely a strange new vibe these days. 

deadendp

The mask thing. I'm totally for it. However, I hadn't worn a mask for that long yet. I decided I would do the same we have my husband do- change to a new mask after lunch. Brown and blue dotty mask did great, but mask #2 fit well at first, then started jogging down my chin as I talked. I ended up changing into a different one. I took a bag of clean masks in case that happened. 

It's something I just need to get used to. 

eeriepadave

Finally got a call from work. I get to go back starting tomorrow

They can only give me 30 hours this week and like 35 next week which i'm ok with. Will be happier once i get back to 40. Also i still have not gotten my unemployment checks at all. Tried calling but I always get a busy signal. Maybe I messed up filling something out. I should have at least gotten something by now.

deadendp

eeriepadave said:

Finally got a call from work. I get to go back starting tomorrow

They can only give me 30 hours this week and like 35 next week which i'm ok with. Will be happier once i get back to 40. Also i still have not gotten my unemployment checks at all. Tried calling but I always get a busy signal. Maybe I messed up filling something out. I should have at least gotten something by now.

Congrats on the call back! 

And yes, you should have gotten money by now.

deadendp

@eeriepadave

How was your first day back? 

eeriepadave

deadendp said:

@eeriepadave

How was your first day back? 

it was long (or felt it at least). after being off for 3 months my feet were pretty sore when i got home. We were pretty busy though. Worked about 30 hours this week. Next week I think i'm scheduled to work 32 or 35 hours. I'll be happy once i et back up to 40 though.

I also just figured out why I wasn't getting my unemployment in my bank. After I filed for it they sent me my pin number and all in the mail. Few days after that I got this debit card which I was wondering why I didn't think i ordered one. Well apparently it was for my unemployment. I had no clue the unemployment money went to the debit card. I figured it would just go straight to the bank. Luckily I kept it and didn't throw it out or something stupid   So I just activated it today and transferred some money to my bank.

deadendp

eeriepadave said:

deadendp said:

@eeriepadave

How was your first day back? 

it was long (or felt it at least). after being off for 3 months my feet were pretty sore when i got home. We were pretty busy though. Worked about 30 hours this week. Next week I think i'm scheduled to work 32 or 35 hours. I'll be happy once i et back up to 40 though.

I also just figured out why I wasn't getting my unemployment in my bank. After I filed for it they sent me my pin number and all in the mail. Few days after that I got this debit card which I was wondering why I didn't think i ordered one. Well apparently it was for my unemployment. I had no clue the unemployment money went to the debit card. I figured it would just go straight to the bank. Luckily I kept it and didn't throw it out or something stupid   So I just activated it today and transferred some money to my bank.

I'll go in reverse. So glad you got the unemployment figured out! That debit card thing threw several people. 

It's awesome that you have had enough business to eventually build up to 40 hours. We're still on a highly trimmed staff. 

When I got home after day 1, I was so tired I could hardly speak. I really think it was absolutely mentally exhausting to get back to work and be on heightened alert all day just trying to figure out how everything would go. Again, I believe the mask added to the exhaustion. I noticed that the foot I broke back in 2012 pained that first evening, too. Shooting pains right where I broke it. However, that was only day 1. After that, all was good. 

What is your percentage of mask wearing public in store? Just wondering. Ours has surprisingly increased over the days I worked.