MY View

BY JOHN McLOONE

Back to Work!

It’s time to get back to work.

Everywhere you turn, companies of all sizes are looking for help. The complaint is that many people were laid off at the onset of the pandemic, and government chose to beef up their unemployment benefits. So, there are people now making significantly more money not working then they would if they were employed. People not working had a really good gig in the early months of COVID-19, when we were all basically homebound. They made $600 on top of what their regular unemployment benefits would be. While most of us were trying to figure out how to make things keep going with government restrictions in place, others were taking home upwards of $50,000 a year to not work. That $600 got trimmed to $300, and now that extra boost expires in early September.

So let’s get back to work! I agree there was a time when this safety net was needed, but that time has passed by. I actually know of someone who made an unsuccessful attempt to get fired early in this thing. I also know firsthand the effect this is having on all businesses. Sure, the unemployment rate is still very low, but we need those who can work to start working. Our little company tried to hire a graphic artist in the spring. There were great candidates, and they were being paid a fair wage before the company they worked for folded under pressure of the pandemic. One woman told me that we’d have to match her unemployment to get her to come to work. It was an unrealistic number to meet. She still isn’t working.

This boost in pay for not working should have lasted a month, maybe two. Businesses had to get plans in place to get people back to work, and once those plans were in place, it was time to get everyone back punching the clock. Now, we’ve developed a group of people that hasn’t had to work in more than a year. They’re going to be welcomed back to the workforce with open arms.

I spoke earlier this year with an elected official who was in favor of the extended unemployment, because of parents who couldn’t arrange childcare when their children had to learn from home. We can hope now that enough people are vaccinated to keep COVID-19 at bay when this current variant runs its course that our schools can stay open.

The time is now for job-seekers. Companies are paying top dollar. They can’t compete with free government money, so let’s all think twice before we ever let this happen again.