<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>unemployment Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <atom:link href="https://usustatesman.com/tag/unemployment/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/unemployment/</link> <description>USU's Student Newspaper</description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2022 20:05:13 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-screen-shot-2017-10-19-at-4.33.29-pm-32x32.png</url> <title>unemployment Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/unemployment/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Opinion: You deserve to be paid more</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/opinion-you-deserve-to-be-paid-more/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kaden Schipaanboord]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2022 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <category><![CDATA[18]]></category> <category><![CDATA[18.50]]></category> <category><![CDATA[7.25]]></category> <category><![CDATA[donuts]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kaden Schipaanboord]]></category> <category><![CDATA[McDonalds]]></category> <category><![CDATA[minimum wage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[money]]></category> <category><![CDATA[movement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[pay]]></category> <category><![CDATA[unemployment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[unions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wendy's]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22119950</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Across Cache Valley and across the nation, it seems as though people aren’t working. But that is not because they…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/opinion-you-deserve-to-be-paid-more/">Opinion: You deserve to be paid more</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="auto">Across Cache Valley and across the nation, it seems as though people aren’t working. But that is not because they don’t want to.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Signs on Krispy Kreme, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and many more establishments apologize for any inconvenience because they are short-staffed. Many signs even address the “labor shortage” and how some people just don’t want to work.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">At Firehouse Pizzeria on 682 S Main Street, a sign on their front door reads: “We apologize for any inconvenience because we are short-staffed. You are free to put your complaints on the bottom of your job application.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">How do we solve this? How are we able to eliminate this labor shortage? Most people assume this is a result of the pandemic, and people are just used to not working or living off unemployment. While this may be part of the truth, there is one underlying problem that is the true culprit. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">No one is getting paid enough.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Believe it or not, Utah’s current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The national average is around $10.10, though the federal minimum wage is also at $7.25. This is absolutely not enough to live off of. While close to zero employers are offering $7.25, most of them think that if it is above that number then it is a great offer. That is not true.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">The cost of living is skyrocketing right now. We all know the price tag of a house is absurdly high, to the point where starter homes are well over half a million dollars at this point. To clarify, I am not saying that we should be able to purchase houses in cash with our minimum wage income, but the price of a home is often used to gauge where the economy is at and where the price of living is. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">This movement (more of a label) of a labor shortage started around when the pandemic was near its peak in summer 2020. While maybe at the start of the pandemic there was a true labor shortage, (because of the obvious) it has since become much more than that.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">The title of “labor shortage” was started by the media and corporate companies to try and excuse the fact that they were not paying enough. From this, more proactive movements have started to revolt (peacefully) against the workforce and their companies.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">From the labor unions created at multiple Starbucks across the country, to a whole community of people online under the title on Reddit called r/antiwork, there has been some real change.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">But not enough.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">R/antiwork is a community where they believe “unemployment for all, not just the rich!” That does not mean that they believe everyone should not work and still receive payment. They, including me and many others, believe that the normal work environment has become unacceptable and almost intolerable compared to what they are being paid.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">One of the top posts talks about how their grandmother said she understood the plight of underpayment because when she started working, she was making $7 per hour — an equivalent of $19 per hour in that time. “They don’t know,” the caption reads.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Many jobs available now are making changes in their pay and benefits, which is great. Both Walmarts in Cache Valley have a starting pay of $18.50 per hour. But that is more than your average teacher or nurse with </span>a college degree.</p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">If a change is to be made, it needs to start with the payment of your workers. The pandemic taught us many things, but one of the most important things we learned is that we can make just as much money, (and more!) working from home and doing less work. We need to call on all companies to adjust their pay and the environments that they create in the office. But that is a different story. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">—</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><i><span data-contrast="none">Kaden Schipaanboord is studying journalism at Utah State. He has a passion for movies and loves anything outdoors. </span></i><br /> <i><span data-contrast="none">—A02331363@usu.edu</span></i><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/opinion-you-deserve-to-be-paid-more/">Opinion: You deserve to be paid more</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Utah women in the workforce see negative effects from COVID-19</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/utah-women-in-the-workforce-see-negative-effects-from-covid-19/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brielle Carr]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 28 Aug 2021 02:00:44 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[COVID-19]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[CARES Act]]></category> <category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category> <category><![CDATA[money]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Single mothers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Survey]]></category> <category><![CDATA[unemployment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah Women and Leadership Project]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Women in the workforce]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22115337</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>On Aug. 25, the members of the Utah Women & Leadership Project met to discuss the impact Covid-19 is having…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/utah-women-in-the-workforce-see-negative-effects-from-covid-19/">Utah women in the workforce see negative effects from COVID-19</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Aug. 25, the members of the Utah Women & Leadership Project met to discuss the impact Covid-19 is having on women in the workforce. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Susan R. Madsen, the founder of this effort, hosted the meeting and addressed the concern for the employment rates of women in Utah. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I believe that one of my life callings is to strengthen the impact of girls and women in this world — including in Utah, so I feel called to do this work,” Madsen said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And although the pandemic has caused the economy and all types of workers to take a hit, this meeting showed that women seem to have taken it the worst. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jobs were lost, education was disrupted, and everyday life at home became harder than ever before. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The meeting also specified that COVID-19 has affected working women in our surrounding communities more than most others. The unemployment rate for women during the pandemic nearly doubled the rate of working men.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To understand what women were facing, a survey was sent out in January 2021 to all women over the age of 20.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the questions from the in-depth survey asked, “If you are not currently working for pay or if you stopped working at any time after March 2020, what is/was your main reason for doing so?” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A common response from the women was that their employer had lost business and couldn’t afford to keep them hired. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another major reason for the unemployment rate increasing is women having to leave work to take care of their children that were no longer able to go to school or daycare. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taylor Pollock, a freshman at Utah State University, expressed the impact that COVID-19 had on her mother and family. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My mom is a licensed cosmetologist and a master esthetician,” Pollock said. “She works at a day spa and at some point, during Covid, she was not deemed an essential business so she had to stop working. Luckily for us, we live with our grandma, so we weren’t kicked out of our house.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pollock also said there was more tension present in her home when everybody was stuck inside all the time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This ripple effect from the pandemic also led numerous mothers, chiefly single mothers, to experience various mental health problems.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the flip side, there were women working harder than they ever had during the pandemic but their efforts didn’t match their wages. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, those who worked for food services and those in the medical field saw a massive increase in workload without much relief or reward. This resulted in many women feeling burnt out at the end of the day, especially those who have young children at home. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But results show there were only a small percentage of women that felt overly concerned about money. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One potential reason for this could be because this past January, women were able to get back on their feet and receive support from the CARES act and other resources. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Madsen expressed that efforts are still continuing and that companies are making an effort to support workers — especially women.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There have been back to work learn and work programs through COVID-19 to help people retool and learn to shift careers/jobs,” she said. “COVID funds have been around during part of it to keep childcare facilities and providers open to take children.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some of these efforts include allowing flexibility in work location and hours. Free mental health counseling has also been provided and paid sick leave for many employees was increased. </span></p> <p> </p> <p>Brielle.carr@usu.edu</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/utah-women-in-the-workforce-see-negative-effects-from-covid-19/">Utah women in the workforce see negative effects from COVID-19</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Opinion: Congress has failed to support Americans</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/opinion-congress-has-failed-to-support-americans/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ella Olson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 28 Dec 2020 18:52:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category> <category><![CDATA[congress]]></category> <category><![CDATA[coronavirus]]></category> <category><![CDATA[COVID-19]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Democrats]]></category> <category><![CDATA[house]]></category> <category><![CDATA[opinion]]></category> <category><![CDATA[republicans]]></category> <category><![CDATA[senate]]></category> <category><![CDATA[stimulus]]></category> <category><![CDATA[trump]]></category> <category><![CDATA[unemployment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[White House]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22113013</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>The pandemic has been devastating for many Americas both emotionally and financially. The US government has been quite supportive of…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/opinion-congress-has-failed-to-support-americans/">Opinion: Congress has failed to support Americans</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pandemic has been devastating for many Americas both emotionally and financially. The US government has been </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/business/coronavirus-small-business-loans-large-companies.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">quite supportive of big businesses and banks</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> but have failed to support the American people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The CARES Act was passed in April to </span><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trillion-stimulus-package/story?id=69791823"><span style="font-weight: 400;">give 90% of taxpaying Americans</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> up to $1200, with additional money if they have children. However, there are still Americans who have not received their check yet </span><a href="https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/the-irs-is-still-sending-stimulus-checks-9-reasons-you-didnt-get-yours-and-what-to-do/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">for various reasons</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This was not nearly enough money to support the millions who lost their jobs or faced unexpected costs such as childcare as a result of the safety measures put in place.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other first world countries have done a better job of handling the pandemic in terms of cases and deaths, but it did come with an economic cost. These countries decided that the lives of their people were more important than the economy, and I’m inclined to agree. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is exemplified when looking at Australia. Their harsh restrictions led to </span><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ac98dd24-9edb-4618-a9af-5ab4cf892262"><span style="font-weight: 400;">their first recession in nearly 30 years, but they’re already starting to recover</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts the Australian economy will grow 3.2% in 2021. Other first world countries’ economies are predicted to shrink more as they have to keep reimposing restrictions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is even data that suggests that lower COVID death rates go hand in hand with minimal economic decline. In South Korea, there were 6.92 deaths per million people and</span><a href="https://ourworldindata.org/covid-health-economy"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> their economy shrunk less than 5% in the second quarter of 2020.</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Congress has </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/politics/second-stimulus-whats-included.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">voted on and essentially passed a second stimulus package</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 9 months later. This shouldn’t be the second package, it should be the third or fourth. Congress has turned the pandemic into petty partisan fighting instead of doing their job: serving the people who elected them. They need to get their heads out of the sand and pass legislation that will provide much-needed relief to Americans.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The current package </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/politics/second-stimulus-whats-included.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gives a paltry $600</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in a direct deposit check and, although it has provisions for small businesses, there are no funds going to the states. According to a recent Congressional Budget Office report, </span><a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-09/56537-pandemic-legislation.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">aid to local and state governments</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> would help the GDP the most. This compromise was needlessly rushed and will fall short of its purpose to help the economy and the American people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prior to this package, a proposed stimulus package had been </span><a href="https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/12/second-stimulus-check-update-congress-may-vote-on-1200-payment-heres-the-latest.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">backed by Trump and passed in the Democratic House twice</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Now, Trump is criticizing the compromise Congress has reached, </span><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/22/trump-calls-covid-relief-bill-unsuitable-and-demands-congress-add-higher-stimulus-payments.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">saying that bigger direct payments should be included</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, among other things.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Trump is now </span><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/27/politics/donald-trump-stimulus-bill-unemployment-benefits/index.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">refusing to sign the bill</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which he shouldn’t be doing as millions of Americans are suffering as a result, but some of his criticisms are valid. There should be bigger direct payments.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Congress has failed to provide proper economic support to Americans for the past 9 months and one $600 check will not cut it for the ones who need it the most. Sure, it may be better than nothing, but $600 is not a lot when compared to the cost of living spread out over 9 months.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tomfoolery surrounding the stimulus package as well as the government’s response to the pandemic has made the brokenness of our system clear. Congress and the White House need to get better at compromising, communicating, and serving the people. The petty infighting and gridlock puts the livelihood of millions at risk and has led to unnecessary death and suffering.</span></p> <p><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-22111458 alignleft" src="https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-600x597.png" alt="Headshot of columnist Ella Olson." width="179" height="178" srcset="https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-600x597.png 600w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-1000x995.png 1000w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-300x300.png 300w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-1536x1528.png 1536w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-335x333.png 335w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-1050x1045.png 1050w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-50x50.png 50w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-150x149.png 150w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot-500x498.png 500w, https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ellaheadshot.png 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 179px) 100vw, 179px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Ella Olson is an opinion writer at the Statesman. She’s originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and enjoys reading, debate, and hammocking.</em></p> <p><em>ella.olson@usu.edu</em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/opinion-congress-has-failed-to-support-americans/">Opinion: Congress has failed to support Americans</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>