In an earlier blog I spoke to my applying for Unemployment Insurance via the folks at the Employment Security Commission. Last year (the last time I had done so) I had visited the office on South Briggs Avenue in Durham and was amazed at the treatment afforded me because I was a veteran. The security officer there told me that anytime I came there my privilege as a veteran was to immediately head to the front of the line and, considering the crowd there, that was something that I was hesitant to do until the officer came to me and then escorted me to the window where I was soon in the back and seated with a Veteran’s Counselor.
This time was somewhat different.
When I arrived at the ESC office, there was no one else in the waiting area and a sign directed me to sign in at a computer provided for that purpose. After doing so the computer directed me to the window where I learned that, unless I had an appointment, I would not be able to speak with one of the Veteran’s Counselors that day. The ladies there were very friendly and polite, but it was obvious that the new ‘improved’ system was designed to funnel folks away from the ESC to apply for benefits, etc. on-line.
Makes me wonder what the folks in the back do all day; must be some pretty expert solitaire players in our ESC offices!
So, I returned home and went to the on-line site and filled out the application and dutifully signed up at the NCWork.gov web site with all manner of positive advice on how to find a new job. No mention either in the application or material they provided about ex-felons seeking employment; I can understand why.
Several days later I received not one, but two letters (duplicates of each other) that listed my income from my one job (a part-time, temporary position with Measurement, Incorporated) with the following statement:
“You had insufficient wages in your base period.”
Along with this was the statement that because of the dearth of my income in the previous year, I was ineligible for any unemployment insurance benefits, hence my UI was UA (unauthorized absence for those without military experience).
A bit over three years since my release from prison; over 450 applications to a wide variety of companies in the Triangle area and all I have to show for it is the position that I have with Measurement, Inc. Makes me wonder what they expect of me, but then it is a bureaucracy and as such they have a set of rule/hoops they expect folks to jump through and, as in my case, you don’t exactly fit in any of their round holes…well, that is unfortunate.
So, I continue to look for some kind of meaningful work while also investigating other possible directions…stay tuned.
This time was somewhat different.
When I arrived at the ESC office, there was no one else in the waiting area and a sign directed me to sign in at a computer provided for that purpose. After doing so the computer directed me to the window where I learned that, unless I had an appointment, I would not be able to speak with one of the Veteran’s Counselors that day. The ladies there were very friendly and polite, but it was obvious that the new ‘improved’ system was designed to funnel folks away from the ESC to apply for benefits, etc. on-line.
Makes me wonder what the folks in the back do all day; must be some pretty expert solitaire players in our ESC offices!
So, I returned home and went to the on-line site and filled out the application and dutifully signed up at the NCWork.gov web site with all manner of positive advice on how to find a new job. No mention either in the application or material they provided about ex-felons seeking employment; I can understand why.
Several days later I received not one, but two letters (duplicates of each other) that listed my income from my one job (a part-time, temporary position with Measurement, Incorporated) with the following statement:
“You had insufficient wages in your base period.”
Along with this was the statement that because of the dearth of my income in the previous year, I was ineligible for any unemployment insurance benefits, hence my UI was UA (unauthorized absence for those without military experience).
A bit over three years since my release from prison; over 450 applications to a wide variety of companies in the Triangle area and all I have to show for it is the position that I have with Measurement, Inc. Makes me wonder what they expect of me, but then it is a bureaucracy and as such they have a set of rule/hoops they expect folks to jump through and, as in my case, you don’t exactly fit in any of their round holes…well, that is unfortunate.
So, I continue to look for some kind of meaningful work while also investigating other possible directions…stay tuned.
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