When would you take a job paying less than UE

[Politically_Incorrect12]

At what point in your job search would you take a job paying less than unemployment?

I couldn't get the whole phrase to fit in the title, but that was the basic question

[haapai]

I might do it if:

• The job was interesting, in my field, or could lead to something better
  
• Unemployment was about to end.
  
• If my state unemployment agency only docked my wages instead of ending my unemployment benefits.
  
• Sitting around the house The job search was driving me batty.
  
• The job came with perks (like meals) that made up for the shortfall.
  
• The tax benefits associated with working made up for the shortfall.
  
• Not working meant being roped into unpleasant enough unpaid labor.
  

[haapai]

I might also consider the job if it could be Part A of a two-job solution. That is, if the hours associated with the job paired up well with another job that I could easily get and the two jobs netted more than unemployment netted, I might consider taking it.

[phil5185]

At what point in your job search would you take a job paying less

In almost all cases. UE results in long periods of blank spaces on the resume - the world passes you by as others grow their skills while you stagnate.
Often the math points to UE - a min wage job minus childcare costs is less attractive than UE. But a couple years later when others have been promoted a few times, the earner has the head start.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...funny that this thread question would come up after the "do you all hate?" thread...
...called it wimpy pride or something for us, but, in general, I think working at or below welfare and UE levels has its benefits... some personal, some universal... such is life...

[olderburgher]

Heck I have several of them now: Husband, Father, Grandfather, my charitable work. Add to them yard work etc. and what is one more? Seriously however, some of us work because we can't sit all day. I am one of them so yes I'd take it.

[The J]

Jan 23, 2011 9:12:11 GMT -5 haapai said:

I might do it if:

• The job was interesting, in my field, or could lead to something better
  
• Unemployment was about to end.
  
• If my state unemployment agency only docked my wages instead of ending my unemployment benefits.
  
• Sitting around the house The job search was driving me batty.
  
• The job came with perks (like meals) that made up for the shortfall.
  
• The tax benefits associated with working made up for the shortfall.
  
• Not working meant being roped into unpleasant enough unpaid labor.
  

This

[zibazinski]

Well, my tenant won't go back to work until his UE ends because he would have to work(and actually work not sit behind a desk)and for half the money he made telling other people what to do.

[haapai]

Jan 23, 2011 11:49:26 GMT -5 BeenThere...DoneThat... said:

...called it wimpy pride or something for us, but, in general, I think working at or below welfare and UE levels has its benefits... some personal, some universal... such is life...

Perhaps the word that you are looking for is "masochism". It really is a kick in the ass.

[cronewitch]

I only would if it was in my field and I would gain a skill or I couldn't see a decent job coming anytime soon. It does fill a spot on the resume but I wouldn't want to fill it with something that sounds unskilled. I worked for less than minimum wage for account temps once, they reduced my unemployment so my actual earnings was so low I still got 109 a week unemployment. But I worked for a huge insurance company as a cash manager and learned much more about spreadsheets and linking sheets together arranging sheets. It was only a few weeks but keep my unemployment from running out. When applying for later job I was able to cover many months unemployment with that I worked as a temp. I wouldn't have been something like a burger flipper for the same pay as cash manager it would look bad later and I wouldn't have learned anything useful.

[Deleted]

In Canada if you are earning less then your EI benefits you get topped up to your full benefits. Plus a bit actually, I think you can make $50 or $100 week before it gets deducted from your benefits.

[dragonfly7]

• If it had definite pre-set hours (like 8am-12pm) so it could easily be combined with another part-time job.
  
• If it were in a library. (Based on my skills and strengths, my ideal job is a Reference Librarian, or something very much like it. Suggestions appreciated.)
  
• If my UE benefits were about to end.
  

Since DH was hired full-time for his dream job a week ago and can cover the minimums on his income, every cent I earn, whether UE or through a job, is going toward debt payoff. So in addition to the above:

• If it is something that fits my interests or values.
  
• There are benefits that make up for it not being interesting/furthering my skills/providing any opportunity to advance.
  

[Frugal Nurse]

I think I would always try to work, even if it meant working 2 low-wage earning jobs just to stay afloat. I can't stand to be idle. I like the feeling of having a purpose each day. Lying around the house, getting rejected by higher-paying job after higher-paying job, watching TV all day, would make me feel worthless.

[telephus44]

Like most people, it would depend on the job. If it was interesting, I could learn skills, it provided benefits I wanted, had convenient hours - probably.

But I wouldn't take a pay cut from UE to flip burgers at McDonalds.

[Urban Chicago]

One other big reason-if the new job provided health insurance, since most of the time COBRA will eat up most of your UE.

[thyme4change]

The max payout in my state is $240/week, which is the equivilent of $12,480 per year.

I would have to be pretty darn desperate to take a job that makes less that $13,000 per year with my background.

So, I guess my answer would be "If I was hiding from the mob and working under the table and doing anything that would indicate my real name and background would get me and my family killed."

[shanendoah]

DH just considered taking a job that paid less gross than he gets from UE. It would also have cost us in needing to insure our second car, and gas for a 45 mile (each way) commute. And he almost took it. Why?
It was in the industry he loves
It was the type of job his experience is in
It was for a small company where he would have the chance to show his skills and grow into a more challenging role
There was a defined schedule for raises and a plan to have the position paying 50% more within a year. (Still not what he was making before he was laid off, but close)

He chose not to take the position, but it was a very difficult decision. He just started going back to school and has a 60 minute commute south two days a week for that (in the evenings). The position would have been a 90 minute commute north. He was honest with himself and realized that if he took the job, he would quit school. He's an introvert and total homebody and NEEDS downtime in order to function. (I'm the ambitious one, and married a non-ambitious person for a reason.)
Right now, he's really engaged in the classes he's taking and is exciting about learning again. So, we decided for school.
I also make enough money that we can pay all of our bills and pay out of pocket for him to go to school with no financial aid or additional income (job or UE).

[jkapp]

If I were unemployed and offered a job, I'd take it...unemployment is (or at least, SUPPOSED TO BE) temporary. It is best to get a job when it's offered than to wait until the UE is coming to an end and then whining that there are no jobs out there and demanding more UE...

[Firebird]

This is not, technically, an answer to the question-- but it's ridiculous that we are discussing this!! Why, why, WHY is unemployment high enough to make this such a compelling dilemma for so many people? Grr.

/rant.

[cronewitch]

This is not, technically, an answer to the question-- but it's ridiculous that we are discussing this!! Why, why, WHY is unemployment high enough to make this such a compelling dilemma for so many people? Grr.

Read more: notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=finance&thread=2156&page=1#81941#ixzz1C6LcpHdx

Because unemployment isn't welfare so many people don't need to work enough to work cheap. Our unemployment pays over 500 a week I think so that is about half my current pay. Taking a job for a gross of 500 a week would mean it was harder to search for a real job and would look bad on a resume. I don't need the money and after many years on one job might choose to rest or take vacations between jobs. I have been on this job almost 9 years and I am 62 so if I lost it I might look for another but not burger flipper or hard work of any kind. One thing about getting older is you aren't in the shape you were at 20 so it rules out many jobs like waitress that are hard.

When I was young if I wanted a job I could always get one but I was worth minimum wage, young, strong and healthy. At that age I would have taken jobs cleaning motels, waitress, factory labor, nursing home cook, hospital dishwasher or any kind of work at all and I did. I needed the money and all you needed to get the jobs was a willing attitude and fresh scrubbed face.

Now I am work many times minimum wage sitting at a desk using my brain and less than minimum wage doing hard work. Even the work they give less educated seniors like Walmart greeter or sample giver at Costco aren't something I need to do. If it takes me a few extra weeks or months to land a career level job it is worth it. I can make up for any lost wages in short order.

A person paying for childcare if working can save hundreds on that will drawing unemployment looking for the right job. The spouse might cover medical insurance and they may not be willing to give up the job search and take whatever they can get.

[Politically_Incorrect12]

One poster brought up a good point about having a job paying so much less might look "bad" on a resume or at the very minimum, make future employers more likely to give you a low-ball salary offer since their thinking is likely "it's more than they were just making."

[ummboutthat]

would this be called Charity work?

[dcmetrocrab]

I'd have to be pretty desperate. I live in a HCOL, but the unemployment benefit amount lags behind most of the other HCOL states. I vaguely recall after 10% withholding, it was 1210 a month. I make 7500/month right now. It'd take a lot of fancy footwork explaining such a low paying job on my resume and then trying to jump from that back to my old salary range. I'd do it if I was dead broke and unemployment had run out or if it got my foot into the door for a career change. Otherwise, not worth it.

[justwhoever]

Everytime I see this thread I kinda laugh.

Both Dh and I have jobs that pay less than UE. Combined we make a bit more than the weekly UE. However, if we lived any where else it still wouldn't help.