I’ve been talking to lots of folks about funemployment and yesterday I appeared on NBC’s Weekend Today show to talk about the phenomenon with Jenna Wolfe (you can watch the video here.) Here’s some of what I learned.
Funemployment isn’t new
There have always been people who have been able to enjoy a period of unemployment either because they have the financial means to feel secure or an ability to remain positive during difficult times. But social media tools like Facebook and Twitter have made it easy to be visibly "funemployed" and to meet up with others in the same mindset, which adds a viral nature to this kind of trend. When you update your friends that you've "perused job postings for 1/2 hour, now it's time to surf," it reaches a lot more people than when that same activity happened without the echo chamber of Facebook and Twitter. And with so many people out of work, there is no shame in talking about it and connecting with others in the same position.
Who are the funemployed?
Though I haven’t found any statistics on the funemployed, the phenomenon seems to have taken hold among 20 and 30-somethings with few attachments and responsibilities, and with a source of income. Trust fund types, those with family financial support, and those who've built up a comfy next egg are all candidates. But really, anyone who can find a way to live comfortably on unemployment benefits could be doing this. Still, I've talked to almost no one with a mortgage and dependent children who's living this way.
There's a wide spectrum of how funemployment can look or feel. While some people have no intention of looking for work until their reserves dry up, others are engaging in activities (studying a foreign language, jamming on a musical instrument, volunteering), that may lead them to their next career.
Is funemployment committing professional suicide?
If you want to enjoy time off without destroying your resume, craft experiences that are both fun and potentially useful in a career. If you want to travel, plan to hook up with a conference or pop in on a panel discussion in your field to remain plugged in. If you've always wanted to explore the career potential of your favorite hobby -- say cooking or photography - why not use the time to take a class or teach one -- or even barter services with others to spend more time doing your passion and test the waters in a new field? It also might be wise to do a little consulting so that you can have a way to describe this period on a resume.
Funemployment can bring unexpected benefits
If you're open to possibilities you might see things you never even knew existed. A friend recently emailed me to see if I knew anyone who wanted to house sit and cat sit her sister--in-law's house in an idyllic location in Washington State. I immediately talked to my cousin about it -- she's out of work as is her fiance -- and they jumped at the opportunity. It helped that they had no immediate commitments and were so flexible.
The downsides and dangers of funemployment
Funemployment has some challenges. The most obvious one is that your attitude will likely be irritating to those who don’t have the luxury or ability to live the same way. There are also practical issues. The premise behind unemployment benefits is that you are actively seeking work while collecting. So states try to keep you close to home (where you're presumably job searching) by requiring you to receive return documentation on a tight timetable. Going on an extended romp might jeopardize your collecting unemployment benefits. And if you’re in your twenties or thirties and moved back home with your parents, it’s hard to imagine calling that “fun.”
Geography seems to matter
Certain locales are more conducive to a funemployment mentality. Environments with an outdoor lifestyle attract people who build their lives around enjoying their time off. So I wasn’t surprised to see a lot of the buzz on funemployment came from places like California. An Italian acquaintance in his late 30s shared this observation with me: "I don't know why Americans are so uptight about being laid off," he told me. "When the economy is bad in Italy -- which is often -- we all get on our Vespas and head to the beach." He didn't suggest that there are any guilty feelings accompanying this behavior. So perhaps"funemployed" Americans are adopting a European mentality.
What’s your take on funemployment?
