Laid Off and Pregnant: Is There Any Recourse?

Reader Comments
Back to blog

...you want to know why unemployment is so high> There are lots of jobs out there...they don't pay worth a damn, but lots of jobs. Many people won't take a minimum wage job, because they figured out that the job would end up COSTING them more money just getting there than wat they would get in unemployment! The minimum wage is nothing but a joke! There is no way in hell you can survive on that without working multiple jobs... and forget it if you have a mortgage. DEREGULATION is a MAJORE factor in the shape of the current economy. Bank bail-outs? If they would drop those ridiculous interest rates maby less people woul default on loans, and afford the payments on the credit cards. And thet's not forget about the legalized loan sharks known as "Payday Loans" That is just a nasty circle, that unless you can come up with the extra money, it just goes round and round. Thats it for now...too mad to continue

Dan Masters of AZ 12:42PM August 18, 2009

I was laid off two days ago after only being with the company for 5 months. What happened though is completely crazy in my mind... The previous Friday before I was laid off the book keeper came in and gave her notice that she was done and left 30 min before quiting time!! In the 5 months I've been there I have had nothing to do with the book keeping. I'm the assistant to the marketing and sales director. Anyway I was asked to go through the bills after she left it was soon realized that there were numerous accounting errors. My experience is NOT in accounting but it's pretty easy to figure out PAST DUE is not a good thing. Two days of going through and figuring out we needed a REAL accountant in the office I was let go. Told that because I didn't have the QB experience they needed to sort out the mess that they were just going to hire someone that could do my job and hers. Unbelievable! I was told though not to take it personal, it wasn't my fault.... yeah thanks that will help pay the bills.

A. Hunter of ID 6:37PM August 13, 2009

Since you asked me to explain my earlier comment (below), I'll try.
Let's start with your statement, "Lower profits due to higher taxes means less capital to spend on human resources"---and turn that around.
In a high-tax-rate environment, lower pre-tax profits due to having spent more on human resources (more people employed) and on more new equipment, too, for that matter,---- means lower taxes to be paid. You want management to have incentive to keep people and grow employment, not to get rid of them and take cash out of the business to go (for instance) to one of today's highly touted investments---emerging market stocks (in other countries).
I saw this actually work very well in practice when I was controller of a manufacturing company in the 1970s and 1980s. C-corp tax rates on the owners, plus personal tax rates on dividends (had any been declared) were much higher than today, especially in the 1970s. To avoid those, the owners stayed in constant growth mode--posting lower pre-tax profits by hiring people like crazy. We grew hundreds of new jobs that lasted decades.
Now the tax laws are such that most people who have a business want to hire as few as possible and pay as little as possible---in order to keep more of the difference.
Not so good. I do not believe that low rates create jobs. I believe it's the opposite. And I believe voters are learning this way too slowly as America finds itself in all this trouble.

Muser of NM 4:42PM August 13, 2009

The gov agencies already evaulate person incomes, so just add unemployed a pregnant person expenses meter. The usa welfare system is really decent but persons with criminal problems do not get much help. Which should be changed!! Also like in the medcaid system or hoosier healthwise they compensate for money out of your pocket med expenses eventually. Also that young adults and sometimes older people need start up funds. It gets disgusting having used furnitue sometimes. Funiture companys add on $200 - $300 to cost of creating the furniture. It is a hurtful tactic in the usa. Also such as all cotton shirts cost $5.50 and the all cotton jackets cost $80 - $130. A Mean change. I think that all cotton is better. Lets hope the strictist anti slow(?) politicians go after price gougers(use FTC agency). Also mean tech groups not explaining termnology. People do not know that it hurts when purchased item is not totally their. Mean tech companys. Thank you for your time. Psal99:9-outside pray. Col 3:11.Rev 12:9-they torment us. Babys are a blessing. Choose righteousness not selfrighteous. Watchout for evil persons.

Andrew Tucker of IN 4:07PM August 13, 2009

Please explain your rationale: "Raise the corporate and high-end personal (CEO) income tax so that companies are as nearly as well off employing workers as they would be if downsizing---if they're still profitable."
So you want to increase taxes on corporations and CEOs to create job security for employees? Not really sure how that works. Lower profits due to higher taxes means less capital to spend on human resources (add new jobs for new projects, wage increases, etc...). This ends up with less real jobs, lower wages, less productivity, and on and on....not a good cycle at all.
A corporation does not owe anyone a job. You get job security by your performance, not just because you exist. This notion of job entitlement is ridiculous. No one owes you a job. The individual is responsible for findinga job and performing at a level that allows them to succeed within that company and others, if they choose.
If you own any retirement funds, there is a good chance that the same success that you are banking on in these corporations is the one you are railing against now. That would be hypocritical, wouldn't it? Pretty sure that MS is cushioning the blow for those cuts by offering a substantial severance. No one likes job cuts but sometimes they are necessary.

JO of TN 2:40PM August 13, 2009

"It's perfectly legal in the United States to terminate almost any employee for cause, or no cause" (quoted above), it is also perfecly legal for most employers to completely lie about the reasons for termination. "Redundant"---that's usefully sweet, isn't it?
At some point, Americans need to wake up and do two things:
1) Raise the corporate and high-end personal (CEO) income tax so that
companies are as nearly as well off employing workers as they would be if downsizing---if they're still profitable.
There is something wrong with Microsoft having $23.9 billion in cash on hand, having consistent handsome annual profits, and still announcing the layoff of 5000 workers, as it has done.
2) Repeal the doctrine of "employment at will", except for unincorporated sole proprietorships and partnerships. A corporation does not have a "will". It is a paper entity that you, the voters, can define and control as to its very existence and all its activities. It's just that went to sleep and now let corporations run the voters, instead of the other way around. I'm not saying this would be easy, but it needs to be done.

Muser of NM 11:46AM August 13, 2009

...rest assured, some "Higher up" is probably getting a raise and or promotion! Eventually, the only people in this country that will have "jobs" will be all management. If all non management employees called of sick one day across the country, the only businesses that would survive would be McDonalds, and Taco Bell... those managers are trained in every part of the business, and can do every job un like the V.P.s and CEOs of most large companies that would't know what to do if they had to answer their own phone, or if they spent 20 minute through some automated system before the get to talk to a real person, and then get transferd 4 more times

Dan Masters of AZ 11:25AM August 13, 2009