Upside down land prevails in Wisconsin.
Many people get laid off with the expectation of being called back to work. Retooling, renovations, seasonal market changes, are among other factors cause people to be temporarily laid off. In Wisconsin, we used to understand that. Well, we did until the Republican Plague infected us in 2011. We gave people 52 weeks after a layoff before mandatory job search requirements kicked in. Now, Scott Walkers Wisconsin will give you just 8.
This isn't a piece of legislation that can be fought. There won't be any discussion, no hearings, no nothing. It's a decision made by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. As with all state government agencies, it's headed by a Scott Walker appointee.
Previously, such people could have up to 52 weeks' exemption from the requirement to search for a new job. Now, they will have eight weeks' exemption, with a possible extension to 12 weeks.
The exemption — or waiver — of the work-search requirement for up to 52 weeks had been in place since 2004, department spokesman (for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development) John Dipko said. Before that, Wisconsin limited the waiver period to 12 weeks, he said.
(information in italics is my addition)
In other words, while waiting to be called back to work, people will have to apply for 4 jobs a week, submit verification of those searches, register at the Job Center of Wisconsin's website, post a resume there (yes, you must do that on a computer).
Furthermore, f you don't accept a "suitable job" that's offered to you, your Unemployment Compensation immediately stops. Suitable jobs are not required to have parity with the former job so they can pay less, provide worse working conditions, or offer no benefits.
Scott Walker previously tightened Unemployment Comp in 2013 to impose additional job search and record keeping responsibilities, but didn't change things for people receiving UC until now.
Basically, the new regulations are similar to those imposed in the past on welfare recipients. Those same requirements are now aimed at the unemployed, literally calling them moochers. They're not. They're all people who are in need of assistance and not disrespect.
Naturally, people laid off due to downsizing, outsourcing of work, or without the expectation that they'll be recalled being their job search immediately with hopes of landing a new job. Additionally, some people who are laid off us that time to search for employment that is more permanent, unaffected by things that cause layoffs, or provide better pay, working conditions and benefits. That never changes. What IS changing is the way people who have been laid off from their job on a temporary basis and expect to return in the future.
So, if you're laid off and expecting a recall to your job, you've got a mere 8 weeks to get called back before you'll be subjected to the onerous Unemployment Comp regulations. And if you get a job offer, even for a lousy job, you'll have to choose between taking that job or losing your Unemployment Comp.
Under Scott Walker workers can expect nothing but disrespect from our state government. Ditto women, people of color, urban dwellers, and anyone else who isn't a drooling supporter of the Republican Party.
Wisconsin, going backwards since 2011.