State of Tennessee "Career Center"

You know, they can name it what they want to make all of us feel better about ourselves, but Unemployment is Unemployment. For someone who's never been let go from a job in my entire working career, its an eye opening experience. Most everyone in the building has been there numerous times and can tell you exactly what's going to happen next. Of a room full of people there were 3 of us who'd never filed for unemployment before. By nine in the morning, there were probably 30 people and when number 31 came in, she told him it was a 5 hour wait. I was number 25 and that was getting there at 8:00 when they opened? Figure that one out...there are "carry over people" who they let in at 7:30 to get in line first. Then there are people who come in for assistance in finding a job, they're required to fill out a form and sit and wait until someone can counsel them and send them out on an interview, so in a room that holds 40, 20 were there for that and 35 were there for filing for unemployment.

Now its lunch time and number 22 is called back. We're all starving, because its taking so long, and they suddenly call back 6 of us into a conference room. This is under the premise that "they" want to help us get outta there faster. After 10 minutes, we discover that two of the people had not recorded their reason for dismissal correctly. See, only the laid off people could be in this "fast track" meeting. Once she talked to me, it was less than 5 minutes to get all she needed and give me what I needed. So, why do you think it took 4 1/2 hours to meet with 21 people? I have my suspisions, but that will be another blog.

I am planning to write a letter to Govenor Bresdesen and ask him why in the world Tennessee doesn't follow the rest of the states' lead and have a phone registration process. Evidentally (from one of many conversations while waiting) TN is the only state that is still in the middle ages. I know that might mean closing some offices and streamlining a process that has evidenally become too combersome for the small and aging workers, but, I believe I pay taxes in this state and the salaries of these folks and I vote for a reduction in staff and a telephonic process for unemployment. Anyone Second that emotion?

Well now that I've registered, there is a week long waiting period before I will call in and then another week before I get a check which is at the max for me, at $275. per week. If I remain unemployed for 5 weeks, I'll get that first week, but, if I get a job before 5 weeks, then I never see that first week's pay. I don't think that it will break the bank, but that seems cheesy, not to get that money, another note on the Bredeson memo....

At any rate, I've interviewed for two and spoken with another one who'll set up an interview for a third and I've been out of work a week. So, By God's grace, I'll not be unemployed for my $275. Its all good, and God is good, the State of TN is weak with their policies and procedures.