It’s August.  That means it’s unbearably hot, the city is pretty much empty, many people are on vacation.  It’s a hard time to be unemployed.
 
Having never been through a summer of unemployment before, I don’t recommend it.  Job hunting is difficult to begin with, but job hunting in a sweltering apartment in the middle of the day becomes almost torturous.  I’ve been spending a lot of time in front of my computer, a fan blowing directly on me, windows flung open, hoping for relief of some sort.  I envy my friends who are working— not just because they have jobs, but also because they have free air conditioning.

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Whether or not to extend unemployment benefits has been a hot topic this summer.  There was a lot of fuss in July when Congress went on vacation without coming to any sort of resolution on the issue.  Needless to say, that irked many people throughout the country— across age, race, gender, religion, and political party.  Why would Congress take a break when a decision affecting millions of Americans was at stake?  Many were relying on those benefits to pay their rent or mortgage, to buy food, to pay bills.  It seemed callous that Congress would say, “Oops, sorry.  We’ll get to it when we get back.”
 
Extending unemployment benefits is not a Democrat or Republican issue.  It is an American issue.  The country is divided enough at the moment.  Party politics does not have any place when it comes to keeping millions of jobless Americans afloat.  
 
Eventually, of course, unemployment benefit extensions were approved in the middle of July.  And many people, myself included, rejoiced after spending weeks wondering what was going to happen, if benefits would be cut off, if we’d be able to stay in our homes, if we’d be able to feed our children, if we’d be able to pay our electric bills…

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I grew up in a middle class family in the Midwest.  I was fortunate enough never to go hungry, to always have a roof over my head, to get a good education.  And I was also fortunate enough to have a family that instilled in me the importance of giving back and being compassionate toward others.
 
During these months of unemployment, compassion is one word that has popped in to my mind time and time again.  There are millions of unemployed people— including me— and we deserve some element of compassion.  Family and friends are most often the ones supplying it, but sometimes the wider world can be quite cold.  I’ve never been unemployed before and happened to be the casualty of a disastrous economy.  I did nothing to be in this position and, in fact, have done what a responsible American should do:  get an education, work, pay taxes, give back to the community.  The idea that many have that I, and others out of work, are lazy and just want to sit and collect benefits is wrong and insulting— and shows a lack of understanding and compassion.  Believe me, I’d much rather be working, using my skills, and collecting a paycheck than receiving unemployment benefits.

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I have always heard that it’s easier to get a job when you have a job.  And I think that’s true.  You have already received the “stamp of approval” from one employer, thus making you desirable to another employer. The same goes for dating, too. 
 
I believe there has always been subtle discrimination against the unemployed.  Most times, there is the assumption that you must have “done something” to be out of work.  I have had a couple interviews when the HR person asked me “what I did” to get laid off.  I remember sitting there, stunned, because I hadn’t done anything.  My company was downsizing, and I was one of those let go.  The lack of understanding on their part both angered and terrified me.  I felt like I was being blamed for something that was not my fault.
 
Sometimes, of course, people are fired for cause.  But in this economic climate, when the unemployment rate hovers around 10%, I think a safe assumption for being out of work is an economic one.   We are in the midst of one of the worst downturns in recent history.   And it seems that discrimination against the unemployed is becoming not only more frequent, but also more acceptable. 

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While the four-letter “f” word has been uttered frequently in the Pink household over the last five months, there is another “f” word that is taking precedence.  “Frustration” and its various incarnations— frustrated, frustrating— may have overtaken the other “f” word.
 
When I was laid off in January, I felt a number of emotions, one of which was frustration— at being treated so poorly, at having no control, at wondering where the lay-off would leave me.  I was frustrated with the company that had let me go in such a cold manner.  I had been a responsible and efficient employee, and that wasn’t good enough.  

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