I get it guys. Again, thanks for the clarification. I had tried calling the Oregon employment department to ask these questions first, but was stuck in the endless automation loop and when I finally got sent to the right place, the hold time was hours, so I posted the question here. As I said earlier, I have no experience with unemployment and was clueless about how it was paid and under what circumstances it can be accessed.

My questions have been answered and the case is closed. We decided to make a drastic lifestyle change and I'm exploring all available resources.

Thanks again for all of your perspectives and educated input.

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
... case it goes through, you paid for it all those years...

Who paid for it?

quote:

Originally posted by benny6:
I get it guys. Again, thanks for the clarification. I had tried calling the Oregon employment department to ask these questions first, but was stuck in the endless automation loop and when I finally got sent to the right place, the hold time was hours, so I posted the question here. As I said earlier, I have no experience with unemployment and was clueless about how it was paid and under what circumstances it can be accessed.

My questions have been answered and the case is closed. We decided to make a drastic lifestyle change and I'm exploring all available resources.

Thanks again for all of your perspectives and educated input.

Tony.

Congratulations on your escape! Florida will be different, but I hope it ends up being a really good different!

Good luck on the move and let us know how it goes, I hope ya'll enjoy Florida.

I would like to see anyone's pay records showing that they paid for unemployment compensation while employed.

I was an employer for over 20 years. In addition to salaries or wages I also paid unemployment, workers compensation, and the matching employers' costs for social security and medicare coverage. Not even taking into account any employee health insurance or other benefits, just the basics legally mandated on employers amounted to about 16% of payroll expense (i.e.: a $10 per hour employee cost me $11.60 per hour, plus overhead for accounting and compliance). At one time, as a construction contractor, I was paying 38% of wages just for workers' compensation, and I never had a claim for on-the-job injury.

Your employer paid your unemployment compensation insurance as required by state and federal laws. Your employer's premiums for that coverage is dependent upon his record of claims and expenses, so your employer has a direct interest in defending against bogus claims.

I hate hearing people saying crap like "You paid for it, you deserve it". It's just another tax levied on employers and described by politicians as a "benefit" or "entitlement" as a means for buying votes at election time.

More socialism in action. Be the "friend of the workers" while forcing employers to pay more for employee benefits, adding to the cost of goods and services, driving up costs for every productive taxpayer without sending out a bill to the recipients.

There really is no such thing as a free lunch. You have made some decisions for the benefit of yourself and your family.

Yeah, I'm a really mean old man.

Not to pick nits, but the employee pays for everything out of their productivity. Any tax or fee the employer pays is at the detriment to the employee's paycheck. That is, if an employee is paid $10/hr, he has to produce another $1.60 of value or else the employer cannot break even.

Governments set it up this way intentionally so that workers don't see the actual taxation listed on the pay stub.

quote:

Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
Not to pick nits, but the employee pays for everything out of their productivity. Any tax or fee the employer pays is at the detriment to the employee's paycheck. That is, if an employee is paid $10/hr, he has to produce another $1.60 of value or else the employer cannot break even.

Governments set it up this way intentionally so that workers don't see the actual taxation listed on the pay stub.

Exactly. Smoke and mirrors.

During my 20-plus years in business I never made as much money as my insurance companies, workers compensation, unemployment insurance, etc. All the bills have to be paid, and all the employees have to be paid, before the business owner sees a single dime. During tough times more than once I went 6 months or more without a paycheck but the unemployment insurance, workers comp, social security, medicare, and all the rest had to be paid even if I had to borrow money to make it happen. I have also gone as long as 7 years without a single day off, no weekends, no holidays, no vacations.

When a business owner has to borrow money it usually requires pledging as collateral the house, the bank accounts, the vehicles, the equipment, everything is at risk every single day.

Back to the original point: No employee has ever paid for unemployment insurance, it has always been a government-mandated expense for the employer.

Smoke and mirrors.