Layoffs on Shine

Upsides of the downturn: questions for Kurt Andersen

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We've heard the cliches: "That which doesn't kill us makes us strong;" "Something good will come of this;" "A blessing in disguise;" "Find the silver lining." And when it comes to the impact of the current recession, they are the kind of empty words that don't usually make us feel much better. But after reading Kurt Andersen's book, Reset, I started to believe that once we come out what he calls this "economic emergency," we may be living in a culture that is a lot more sane and healthy than the one that brought us down.

Andersen traces the crisis of the past few years to the excesses that began in the late 1980s -- the increasing size of the average American house, the rise in consumer debt, the ubiquity of state-sanctioned and state-run gambling, even the expanded girth of the average American. He uses the vocabulary of addiction to explain how America needs to get back on track -- "to teach ourselves to buy and sell and borrow in healthier, more moderate ways."

I had a chat with Kurt Andersen, an acclaimed journalist (New York Magazine, Spy magazine, Vanity Fair, Time), novelist, and radio host (and a lot more), about what this all means for the future of work. Below is a condensation of our conversation:

Does unemployment insurance keep people from working?

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One of the best ways to find work is to work part-time in the hopes of it turning into full-time employment. Another strategy is to try to work for yourself as a freelancer, consultant or entrepreneur. But either of these have one giant downside -- if you collect unemployment insurance and you earn more than a certain amount a week from work, you'll jeopardize your unemployment earnings.

Here's how it works in NY, where I live (it varies state by state, but most states have a similar system):

Human Resource Managers Are Optimistic About Third Quarter

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Another report is showing a glimmer of optimism for the economy and small businesses in the third quarter. The Society for Human Resource Management, made up of personnel and human resource professionals are reporting increased confidence in the third quarter job market according…

Can unemployment become "funemployment"?

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With the national unemployment rate at a whopping 9.5%, it has now reached the point where even if you’re working, you know plenty of folks who are out of work. And while it’s safe to say that the majority of the unemployed need and want to be working, a new attitude has arisen around a subset of the unemployed. It’s called “funemployment” and it’s taken hold among those who are working to squeeze some enjoyment out of their time off. The term is showing up on blogs and Facebook groups and has been chronicled in a few buzz-generating newspaper articles, like this one.

What's Your Plan? (Part 1)

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With the slow economy, companies are making drastic cuts…layoffs, pay reductions, and increased medical premiums. How can employees position themselves to not only avoid being terminated but to continue career growth, merit increases, etc.?

If you can demonstrate ways that you…

Recession puts roles of moms and dads in flux

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Interesting article "How the recession is reshaping the American family" over on The Christian Science Monitor about…

How to help someone who's been laid off

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Last week, I had yet another coffee date with an acquaintance who was recently laid off. Before we met, I thought a lot about how I could be helpful to him without offering tired cliches like "It will all work out for the best." Less than a year ago, I lost what I had thought was a dream gig -- writing a regular column and blog for The New York Times. As I prepped for my meeting, I tried to remember how I was feeling during that time and which people made me feel good and which made me want to clock them. Here's what I came up with.

When you reach out to someone who’s recently been laid off, keep in mind that layoffs hit people differently. The good news is that there’s little shame in being out of work today. Still, for almost anyone who has been laid off, it is a sensitive time; emotions can be unpredictable. So try to be gentle. Especially if you’re a member of the family. What might be considered a polite observation by a friend could easily be interpreted as offensive meddling by a mother, sister, or in-law. And now, a few specific tips:

User post: Unemployment -- The great equalizer

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At 10:30 a.m. yesterday, I was laid off from my job. My company (they publish several health care magazines) had been steadily going downhill since January, and this was I think the seventh or eighth round of layoffs. I was ultimately cut because I was the last one hired, 19 months ago. I had…