FDR put on wage and price controls in ww2. Big companies to attract skilled workers couldn’t’ offer them more money so they offered “benefits”. Somehow, they were found not to be “cash compensation”. Thus the mess we have today.

Your “benefits” are tied to your job. Arghh. In one of my transitions, I bought my own “benefits” (i.e., major medical with a high deductible) for a few hundred a month. And, have always kept them as a backup. I have my own life insurance too.

So, even though now I’m a “corporate weenie”, I wouldn’t go into shock when I get that eventual “pink slip”. As I have blogged, on the first Sunday of every month, I have a meeting of the BoD of “Me, myself, and I” to plan what happens if this month is the “PINK” one.

/RANT OFF/

With all due respect, I list this as a waste of time. For other than the factory hands, it’s just not a good use of time.

For example, in one of my transitions, filing for the unemployment benefits in NY by a NJ resident required FOUR in-person visits and repeated under oath certifications that no activity was engaged in that MIGHT be considered “consulting, contracting, or collecting other economic benefit EVEN IF NO TAXABLE INCOME is earned or money is exchanged”. Sheesh! Who writes this stuff?

On another transition (I’ve been “out” seven times in XXXX years! Let’s call it several decades. I’m planning to be “earning” until I FINALLY land … in my grave. That’s the only time you can stop preparing, worrying, and networking!), I took thirteen hours to collect two checks for a total of $800! (I followed the outplacement counselor’s advice and did it. By the time, I collected my second check, I had a new and better job. I TOLD the counselor what I thought of his advice. He said I was “lucky”. I’d call it “focused”. Your Mileage May Vary!)

I think you just have to write this money off as “government theft”. To chase it, takes your eyes off the prize to begin again generating value, and retaining some of that value for yourself.

imho
Fjohn