Hard Work And Earning Your Way Is The American Way
I saw something that read, “If you ever see kids selling lemonade in your neighborhood, stop and buy a cup or two. They have more ambition than the majority of adults in today’s work force.” I come from a hard-working family where lunch pail jobs were a foundation and mooching off the government was never an option. Our economy is strong. Every business has a “HELP WANTED” sign and homes and land are selling at record high prices, not only here in Montana, but in states all across the country. So… why can’t businesses find employees? Where’s all the money coming from? Are we as a nation slowly being manipulated into the far lefts agenda of government control and allowing socialism to creep ever more deep into our society? Why are we paying people not to work? It’s so messed up!
Montana’s labor force is 10,000 workers less than before the pandemic. Pretty freaking crazy since, most of our state is lax on masks since Greg Gianforte lifted the mask mandate. The governor stated that Montana would be turning down the pandemic stimulus money of an extra $300 per week, in order to jumpstart jobs. Since then, 21 GOP led states have done the same. The added benefits will end June 27th in Montana. Why it’s gone on this long is ridiculous, but whatever. Instead, he’s adding a $1200 attaboy bonus to anyone who gets a job… Again, this is ludicrous! When there are “HELP WANTED” signs everywhere, why are we paying people to go back to work? Maybe it would make more sense to pay the people who have actually worked through the pandemic and reward them! But that’s just my opinion. Paying people to go back to work is not American. Hard work and earning your way is the American way.
I’m not going to lie, the benefits are great. When the pandemic began, I collected the pandemic unemployment. As a self-employed business owner, it was the first and only time I was ever going to get unemployment benefits. But then real estate took off and I was working full-time at my business. I also took on a second job waitressing four days a week (because of a shortage of employees) and I had four kids at home during a pandemic and I thought, “why not?”. I was taught to have a strong work ethic early on. I got my first job when I was 16 cleaning motel rooms. Then I began waitressing and I worked every day after school and on weekends. I like to work. An analysis by The Century Foundation showed that “roughly 3.6 million out-of-work Americans will forgo a total of $21.7 billion in benefits as a result of states actions. STATES ACTIONS? There are jobs everywhere! They are not forgoing anything.
Now, on the flip side… There are arguments of crippling affects of the pandemic and I agree that in some cases there are. Some businesses were forced to close. It was hard to find childcare. People have taken on the extra responsibility of taking care of an elderly person. And when it comes down to it unemployment benefits have sufficed for many, because of the added benefits and not having to drive to work and pay for childcare. Expenses have been down and seriously, why work, when you can stay at home and get paid? It’s POLITICAL CONTROL. Have you noticed which states have been dragging their feet to reopen? Despite all the Americans being vaccinated and the low numbers reported of people getting the virus. Yeah… you know who they are, I don’t have to say it. There is no common sense in our country and the younger generation is going to pay for it through government manipulation and stupid trends on TikTok.
It’s a turning point in our nation. It’s a time for employers to step up and get creative in an attempt to attract employees. Many have, in offering bonuses to sign on and they are still struggling to find help. Things are changing, businesses are changing their hours to compensate for their low workforce. It’s a time for the workforce to wheel and deal and make a change in their work situation. Living wages and incentives to attract workers is a must. I see so many employers who treat their employees like crap. If you’re a business owner, treat your employees well. If you’re struggling to stay in business because you lack employees, obviously you need them. If you have a good year, hand out Christmas bonuses. That is an incentive that is appreciative. It bugs me at the end of the year, when I hear business owners talking about how they made too much money and they need to go buy more stuff to write-off. Why not treat your employees by handing out Christmas bonuses? That’s a write-off worth investing in, because you wouldn’t be in business if you didn’t have help. Decent bonuses that make people appreciative of where they work. Change your business tactics in order to pay a decent living wage. You’re helping families, you’re helping the economy and it should help you by warming your heart.
It’s a nutty world, and a time for restructuring… in the business world and individual work-ethic.
