Spokane7
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August 5, 2011 in City
Job search leaves many exhausted
Anjanette Lal is among about 60,000 Washington workers who lost their jobs and exhausted their 99 weeks of jobless benefits.
(Full-size photo)
When all the new jobs that the new spending cuts are bound to create finally get created, will someone please call Anjanette Lal?
Lal is what the government calls an “exhaustee.” She’s been out of work for 27 months. Her search for a job lasted longer than her unemployment benefits. She’s cobbling together an existence from government programs, but what she wants is a job as a medical assistant – something she trained to do, graduating Nov. 30 with honors from a 10-month program.
“I thought for sure I’d have a job by now,” she said. “The longest I’ve ever been out of a job before was two weeks.”
Lal is a 41-year-old mother of three, with a life of work experience, specific job training in a field that’s relatively robust, and a willingness to do something else if that’s what she’s got to do. And yet she feels as if all of these advantages are adding up as a disadvantage.
Like many job-hunters who are a little older, she believes that employers are passing her over for younger people. And viewing her unemployment, in and of itself, as a liability.
“What I think is happening in Spokane is there’s a lot of competition and we have a lot of medical assistants coming out” of local programs, she said. “I see a lot of these young ones coming out and they’re getting hired right away.”
Lal’s experience is typical. The Washington Employment Security Department recently surveyed more than 5,000 exhaustees about their experiences. Three-quarters had not found work months after their jobless benefits expired. Eighty-six percent of those people said they were still looking. Forty-five percent said they believe age has been the greatest obstacle to re-employment.
The average and median age for an exhaustee in Washington state: 47.
They’re stuck, a little more than halfway into a working life.
Lal’s present circumstances are quite the comedown from her life just a few years ago. She and her three kids rented a four-bedroom home and she had a job at a Liberty Lake insurance company. Her oldest son was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2009, and she lost her job because she couldn’t juggle his care with her work, she said.
Over the next couple years, she qualified for unemployment, and also for a job training program to be a medical assistant – those people who direct patients, take information and vital statistics, and give immunizations. It’s a field with some opportunity, but even more competition, she said.
Now her adult son is in remission and living at home, along with her 14-year-old daughter. A 20-year-old daughter has moved out. Her son gets Social Security Insurance payments, and she’s on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Programs like these have a big target on them – we are told by the current crop of intransigent budget hawks that cutting them is actually going to create jobs.
In any case, Lal is getting by on about $1,000 a month. Her rent runs $758. She lives in the exact place where our rhetoric about the unemployed crashes into reality. In Washington, there are about 60,000 people in that place, and the group grows larger every week. Across the country, there are millions and millions – pinning down precise figures is difficult because of the maze of different kinds of jobless benefits and extensions.
It’s not uncommon to hear people characterize the unemployed as people who won’t work. Or to hear them seize on information about welfare cheats to undercut the whole idea of social assistance. Or to point out that some poor people have TVs and microwaves, if you can imagine. Or to place certain words in quotation marks – like, say, “poor” or “rich” – to glibly dismiss the realities of our economy.
But this is a rhetorical game that is only available to those of us with the luxury of rhetoric. Meanwhile the exhaustees are trying to get out from under an enormous, grinding burden. And the ones I’ve interviewed, this week and over recent months, have not been complaining about a lack of government help. They’ve been complaining about the lack of jobs.
Brigette Ramos is a 39-year-old mother of two teenagers. She ran out of unemployment benefits in October, and is getting by on her child-support payments. She says that if people believe there are jobs to be had, they should walk a mile in her job search.
“Where are they?” she said. “If that’s true, where are they? I’ve applied for things I never would have applied for (before). Dishwasher at Shari’s Restaurant, I’ve applied at Taco Bell … and all these fast-food thingies, and not one person called. It’s scary.”
She had an interview this week. For a job she applied for one year ago.
Even the bright side has a dark side. Twenty-five percent of people who exhausted their benefits had found work by the time of the state survey in April. The average wage for those people went from $25.38 an hour before losing their job to $18.12 in their new work. Fully 80 percent took a pay cut.
Those are the lucky ones.
“I think those who are working don’t think it’s as hard as it is,” Lal said. “Those who are working really don’t have a clue.”
Shawn Vestal can be reached at (509) 459-5431 or shawnv@spokesman.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vestal13.
The draw of the unknowable 
westerly on August 05 at 7:13 a.m.
Being unemployed with kids and no husband, (probably would be working), is a disaster. At least one spouse has a job…real tough and it isn’t getting better here in Spokane or across the U.S.
misjustice on August 05 at 8:11 a.m.
The problem with the above story is that the people don’t want to take a job less than what they were making. According to law, they don’t have to take a job for less money, therefore they continue to collect benefits. $25 an hour in huge wages! $18 an hour is huge wages! Try living on $10 an hour & support 3 kids on your own. (That’s what my daughter does.) Also, they story says the woman lives on $1000 a month. But it doesn’t say what her 20 year old son brings in on SSI & what amount of food stamps she gets, etc. Add that to the household income too SR reporter to make it a more believable story!!
My daughter lost her $16 an hour job & after 3 months of looking for anything found a job at $10 an hour. Less than what she was making before, yet more (not by much) than she was getting on unemployment. Problem was the job she took was the first one offered to her! Three months & hundreds of applications & she took the first position offered to her. (BTW she loves the job!)
I guess my point is we can’t always have what we had. If she really wants a job she will find one.
monkeyman on August 05 at 8:26 a.m.
Sympathies for those who are stuck with the short end of the stick…
greyhound2 on August 05 at 8:46 a.m.
To help create American jobs:
1. Bring back tariffs for corporations who off shore jobs and reimport goods to compensate for advantages of low cost labor pools, no worker safety or environmental concerns..
2. Tax corporations to offset the costs of welfare and unemployment for American workers displaced.
3. Deport all illegal aliens who are driving down wages while bleeding the social safety net dry.
The_Seer on August 05 at 9:01 a.m.
justme: I don’t believe what you stated about not having to take a lower paying job being a “law.” Would you please provide the WAC or RCW that references such invented rubbage.
greyhound: Stop making sense. You must really mean a return to policies that were in place for most of the history of this nation? Ones that protected our workforce? Really?
The people who are long term unemployed, especially recent college grads, will never recover these “lost years” and their earning capacities will also be impacted for the rest of their working careers.
The_Seer on August 05 at 9:07 a.m.
I looked into unemployment in Washington and each week a claimant must answer a series of questions to verify eligibility. They vary from inquiries about availability for work, income received, job search requirements and if you refused offers of employment. Not a word about not having to explain why you refused a job because you didn’t like the pay.
If a person is unemployed through fault of their own they aren’t eligible for unemployment. Most of the long term unemployed are there because a lax regulatory structure and tax cuts for the wealthy destroyed a once vibrant economy, one that was near full employment when the nation once again, stupidly, handed the reigns to the GOP.
When will you ever learn?
momofthree on August 05 at 9:24 a.m.
I really feel for the unemployed. Ive been there and its not easy by any means. I know whats its like to run out of benefits and to never hear back from any of the jobs that have been applied for. I was also retrained and graduated top of my class and was still unable to find a job in that field.
@ justme: Seriously, do you really think that 1000 a month and her SONS benefits are enough to live on? And whos business is it what her son receives. And i doubt that she receives much in food benefits. Bottom line is that she is trying and the economy sucks.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on August 05 at 9:31 a.m.
Really justme? I guess you failed to read in the article that that said 80% of people who returned to work took a pay cut. Yes, people are sitting at home not working, not making any money, not being able to pay the bills or put food on the table because they are holding out for a better job that pays better….thats it.
Also in the story I guess you missed the part where her son who is taking in SSI also has leukemia. Just because it is in remission doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any more doctors appointments or has to continue taking medications and other treatments. And in case you haven’t realized medical treatments and doctors visits are expensive. Since neither of these people can get a job, they probably don’t have any medical insurance and therefore paying for this out of there own pocket….ever thought thats where this poor kids SSI payments are going?
You would think with the issues you daughter is having you might have a little more respect for this person. But I guess you are one of those heartless idiot who thinks $1000 a month if great and these people are probably just being lazy because they dont get a job like your daughter for $10 an hour.
So heartless and ignorant some people are on here. Just waiting for Hawken and Dazzee to come on here and say how lazy these people are for not working.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on August 05 at 10:00 a.m.
“I’ve applied for things I never would have applied for (before). Dishwasher at Shari’s Restaurant, I’ve applied at Taco Bell … and all these fast-food thingies, and not one person called. It’s scary.”
Doesn’t sound like a picky-choosy person to me…
woamike on August 05 at 10:03 a.m.
Dear prince of straw men AKA “seer”, AKA EP, AKA Spotucky,
“Most of the long term unemployed are there because a lax regulatory structure and tax cuts for the wealthy destroyed a once vibrant economy”
Yeah, sure, right. . .
What we need is your special brand of Marxism, right? That will fix everything. . .
Lib,
You frequently berate those you consider “heartless” when they sqawk about the gov taking (by force) their hard earned dough and giving it to someone else. What you apparently consider “charity” is little more than state sanctioned theft. It is neither moral nor virtuous. The same goes for those who support this false, corrupted “charity” system that breeds dependence.
The goverment “takes care of” the needs and WANTS of far too many people. The gov should ONLY help out the truly destitute - not the millions and millions of under achievers and excuse makers. Life is TOUGH. Get used to it. And keep your stinking hands off our wallets. We already give (by our own free choice) our time and money to multitudes of charities.
Stop spending other people’s money to make YOURSELF feel good.
shawnv on August 05 at 10:09 a.m.
Just me — the 1,000 is the total of the TANF and SSI payments. It’s not something she earns in addition.
Also, neither of the people I interviewed were refusing to take lower-paying jobs. Both had tried for lower-paying jobs without success.
DickAdams on August 05 at 10:12 a.m.
woamike, you said a mouth full and I agree most heartily. Verner fits the mold you mentioned, “feel good” crap.
monkeyman on August 05 at 10:40 a.m.
One of the first questions asked by recruiters for white collar jobs is - “Are you currently working?”. Would probably be the very first question if they weren’t trying to be polite.
First-hand experience. Salary is not even in the picture that early in the process.
woamike on August 05 at 11:20 a.m.
“@ justme: Seriously, do you really think that 1000 a month and her SONS benefits are enough to live on? And whos business is it what her son receives.”
Good question. Answer: the tax-payer who gets his pocket picked of his hard-earned money by politicians to provide this largesse.
ginniet on August 05 at 11:30 a.m.
JustMeAgain: I’m guessing you’ve never been in Anjanette Lal’s shoes. I have—4 times between 1982 and 1999, all due to downsizing for one reason or another (but fortunately I didn’t have a sick child at the time). You said your daughter lost her job and had to take a lower-paying one just to have a job. So have I—4 times in 3 different cities! I bet your daughter isn’t 41 years old either.
At 59, I’m very thankful that I’ve had my job for 12 years, even though I’m currently earning what I was in 1987, when that salary (in the lower half of 5 figures) went a LOT farther than it does today. I’m fortunate that my job does provide some benefits, so I’m just trying to hang on until retirement. I know that at my age, I would be lucky to get a job as Walmart greeter if anything.
You reference $25 and $18/hour. Yes, those are HUGE wages (numbers I’ve never seen), but those are AVERAGES! They probably include some union jobs and trade jobs that do pay rates like that and higher. I would love to be able to earn salaries like that.
So JustMe, unless you’ve “walked a mile in her shoes”, don’t assume you know how to solve her problems.
Anjanette on August 05 at 12:17 p.m.
I am THE woman you all are commenting on and I see a whole lot of ignorance going on.
First, I have applied for ANY job that’s out there….minimum wage or higher. In all honesty, it would be great to have the wages I used to have, however, that isn’t my reality.
Second, to clear the air…my son, who is a cancer patient, only brings in $ 674/month in SSI, which will be discontinued, soon, since he’s currently in remission (which doesn’t mean “cured”). For me to have to go to DSHS (aka “Welfare Office”) wasn’t easy, but again, the reality was clear. I receive a whole whopping $ 385/month, which includes 40+ hours of active job searching, which I’ve been doing diligently, since THE DAY I graduated (November 30th). In total, we receive $ 1,059/month and no child support for my 14-year old daughter. Food stamps are: $ 464/month (for those that “need” to know).
And a correction needs to be made in regards to my rent, which is actually, $ 785 v. $ 758 the Spokesman stated. I also have a car payment and Avista that needs to be paid each month…so…if you think I’m living in the “lap of luxury”, or I’m here for a “free ride”, you are surely mistaken!
I find it ironic how many people “think” they know what they’re talking about, but let’s do a reality check here, shall we? Thanks!
Anjanette on August 05 at 12:29 p.m.
Oh…and to the woman who stated that “if I wanted a job, I’d find one”? Lady…pull your head out!!!!
And, yes…there are still several doctor’s appointments and a surgery being scheduled soon, too, for my son.
I have also given hundred’s of hours to my community, in volunteer work, even to those less fortunate. I have worked as a Supervisor for a Fortune 500 (Retirement Community), located on the South Hill; I was an EMT/Firefighter; I’ve owned my own Home Care business; and I went back to school b/c the opportunity presented itself and I love to learn. I received Academic Honor’s, as well as Perfect Attendance, and I just passed my National Certification test, last week.
It’s not me that’s changed…it’s the economy and it’s “ideals”.
MrNatural on August 05 at 12:32 p.m.
Good Luck Ms. Lal
I think folks have a tendency to stereotype or overly simplify the human condition. Each life story told is unique. I fear that more and more similar stories like this will occur.
I prefer to err on the side of humility and compassion if for only to imagine myself in this woman’s circumstance.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on August 05 at 1:20 p.m.
Thanks for Anjanette coming on and speaking out. However, its sad some people will never understand whats going on in the real world and unfortunately will think you and many others in your position are just lazy and sucking off the governments free handouts.
We need more people like you to come out and share your story of whats happening to real people in this country and maybe, just maybe we will start to wake up and realize how bad things have got in our country. I travel all over America for my job and its very sad to see half the states and communities I drive through look almost like a third world country.
Anjanette, just know there are MANY people who know what you are going through and have you and your family in their best wishes. I hope you are able to find work and I hope you son continues to get better, but don’t let a few uninformed idiots on here get you down.
ginniet on August 05 at 1:21 p.m.
Anjanette: Good for you, speaking your mind to straighten out a few people! I hear that kind of thing from my boss occasionally—that anyone can find work if they are willing to take anything. I try to always defend people like you, but some (usually conservatives) won’t listen to reality. I agree that it’s the economy that has changed, and I hurt for you. I remember what it was like to be unemployed not by choice, and it affects your feeling about yourself as well as your economics. You go, girl—good luck and keep hunting. It sounds like you have the “right stuff” to make it eventually (I’d hire you if I were in a position to do so!).
monkeyman on August 05 at 1:29 p.m.
Anjanette on August 05 at 12:17 p.m.
“…and Avista that needs to be paid each month…”
I don’t know what the average monthly charge is, or if you get any assistance from Avista?
On a related note: Now if Avista can find some funds to help this woman, that would be a real PR coup!!!
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jul/30/avista-mailing-out-energy-saving-bulbs/
garyc on August 05 at 1:49 p.m.
Not one to tell people how to live, but I’d recommend reading articles before commenting on them.
gonzomo on August 05 at 2:21 p.m.
What Shawn fails to mention in the article is that there are no jobs here. Just look at the top employers in the area: government (state, local, federal) and education/healthcare (which are government monopolies). Nearly a quarter of the income comes from transer payments. That is the fundamental issue here. People want to work, but there are no jobs, and there is no work to do. A government-based economy simply is not sustainable (see: Greece, Cuba, Soviet Union). We need a private sector economy in this area. That’s the solution. Obama, Lisa Brown, Gregoire, et al have tried the government solutions. It does not work.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 05 at 4:24 p.m.
Annjanette, I am sorry for your difficulty. It may not be possible, but might help being aware of the various feeding programs around Spokane. There are meals available in various settings for individuals and for families. Best wishes…and thank you for being brave enough to tell your story. John Olsen House of Charity Volunteer Chef
Anjanette on August 05 at 5:23 p.m.
I really DO appreciate the POSITIVE feedback I received, only AFTER commenting (with the exception of maybe 1-2 people…I don’t want to exclude those individual’s).
I am an optimistic woman that something will happen…it will just be in His time. I have to remind myself, now and again, that I’m not in control…He is.
Thanks again, everyone! :)
~Anjanette
misjustice on August 05 at 8:10 p.m.
Anjanette, for me you nailed it when you stated that you hadn’t changed but the “economy and it’s ideals” had. Thanks for coming on these threads to share more of your story. And please don’t take to heart any of the mean stuff posted here, some folks just don’t know any better; they’ve been lied to about who/what is to blame for our “economy and it’s ideals”.
Thanks for the reporting, Shawn; keep sharing the stories of people in our community.
johnclarke on August 05 at 8:25 p.m.
Anjanette, I wanted to make you aware of a state funded non profit program called career path services. They are co-located with work source and they help people get jobs. I have seen them do amazing things to help folks. I think all you have to do is ask your case worker at work source and they will refer you. Hope this helps.
www.careerpathservices.org
Orphan on August 05 at 9:27 p.m.
Funny my youngest son who just turned 19 is on his 3rd better paying better benifits job this year. BTW he gave notice each time was not let go. He was working almost full time at the 1st 2 jobs and is now complaining about too much overtime. While he is only making $12 per hour he is averaging about 50 hours per week. So I am not buying someone can not find a job. This is a kid just out of high school with very little in the way of experiance.
He was working 30 to 35 hours per week and went and found his latest job.
The second place he quit gave 2 weeks notice and ended up working an extra 2 weeks because they could not find a replacement.
I know 2 other kids that have changed jobs in the last few months as well.
I would feel different if I was not seeing it with my own eyes.
BTW I collected unemployment 1 time when I was 19 and never went back even though I was laid off a lot in the 70s and 80s. I just went out and found work rather than suffer the humiliation of the unemployment office.
misjustice on August 05 at 9:38 p.m.
And please don’t take to heart any of the mean stuff posted here, some folks just don’t know any better; they’ve been lied to about who/what is to blame for our “economy and it’s ideals”.
M_G on August 05 at 11:07 p.m.
@woamike
Have you ever heard of something called “The Veil of Ignorance”? It’s a thought experiment that allows a person to determine the justness of a situation. It’s used a lot in social contract theory. See, we live and work in a society that exists only because a bunch of people got together and agreed to live by a set of rules - some written, and some unwritten. We don’t have to like them all, but we agree to live by them. Every day the society exists we are reaffirming our willingness as a group to play by those rules. If that society didn’t exist, neither would our - well, our anything. Our jobs, our homes, our investments, our safety - nothing would exist the way it does now.
To try out the Veil of Ignorance (I know you want to), you’ll need to imagine that you are looking at our society before you are born. You are asked to look at the different advantages and disadvantages possessed by those in our society. You are told that you will be born into this society, but you aren’t told what role you’ll play. You might be born rich, or born in middle class America. You might be born addicted to heroin, or you might be born a genius, or a jock, or someone with abusive parents, or any of a million other roles. You don’t know which, because you are standing behind the Veil of Ignorance.
If the idea of being dropped into any random life seems fair and just, the society is just (in your eyes). If the idea of some of those roles scares the heck out of you, the society is not just.
I bring this up, because the “sanctioned theft” that you refer to seems a little egocentric. The hard-earned money being taken out of your pocket and given to others is being used to mediate the unjustness of a society as nuanced and full of differences as ours. It is the price we pay for freedom. If you want to construct a just society where every person catches the same breaks, is treated the same way, and is more or less identical, feel free. I like independence and freedom, instead. But if we insist that those in our society who actually play by the rules and yet go unrewarded should rely hopefully on the piecemeal handouts of the more fortunate, rather than on a (barely) systemic safety net, I think we’ll find a great number of people who are no longer willing to play by those rules. And that ends our society. And your job - your hard earned money. Yes, there is a category of welfare recipients that can be called the “undeserving poor”, but those who are most in need are also often least able to navigate a complex system of charities and government programs. If you want to smooth out the roughest edges before stepping out from behind the Veil, you’ll need a system the deserving can access, and that will bring others along as well.
In short, suck it up, man. You might not like it, but everything you have, you have because other people let you. Work hard, revel in your freedom to do so and your luck at having the capacity to do so. And kiss the feet of the people who did everything right and got the short end of the stick anyhow - because if they’re not happy, you won’t be either.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 05 at 11:17 p.m.
M_G I like the concept… the serendipity of who we are born to, and where we are born in this world, as well as the time in history we occupy are not guaranteed….. so designing a society that will be equitable to be sure life is “reasonable” and not torture, or slavery, or prostitution, or without water and food and on and on and on… for all persons without regard to their skin color or identity is a sobering thing….. It is simply what Christian Gospel teaches us and talks to us about to try and achieve/effect while here on earth for ALL people…. thanks and best regards John
monkeyman on August 06 at 7:27 a.m.
M_G on August 05 at 11:07 p.m.
“…we live and work in a society that exists only because a bunch of people got together and agreed to live by a set of rules - some written, and some unwritten.”
Your post may be too deep for some to understand, perhaps me included. One does need to realize that we are part of society. And all we do or “have” is not just because of our own skills, hard work and drive. This is very hard for people to understand, especially if all they have seen is the recent American society.
Also, the tables can turn in an instant. What if one is diagnosed with a terminal disease, given a couple of months to live. It would be easy for others to judge why this “responsible and intelligent person” ended up with the disease. Even if it was due to pollution in the water/air over which they didn’t have control…
If that person happens to be you, more likely than not you may be OK switching places with this woman’s situation, right?
lewis8457 on August 06 at 7:32 a.m.
i have been with out a full time job for 4 years, I lost my part time job cleaning toilets back in March 2011. I live on $620 unemployment, i am 54 years old i don’t look for work any more i looked for 3 years solid was awarded 3 1st interviews but nothing else.
I will do anything, i pick weeds, mow lawns, haul trash. sell metal, collect cans, give plasma, you name it.
I own my own home in 2007 it was worth $107,000 now it is worth $76,000, while my sewer fee goes up 6 dollars every 3 months and my property taxes rise $110 a year.
i have lost over 25,000 in equity so i cant sell and just live in a box with a nice nest egg.
To all the people that bitch about their jobs be grateful you have one, because yours is on the chopping block too.
johnclarke on August 06 at 8:14 a.m.
Lewis, ask for an appointment at career path services. They will provide bus passes, training programs you name it. They get people jobs. Might be worth a shot.
Orphan on August 06 at 8:50 a.m.
OK Anjanette I am up for a challange, I will offer you some free advice. I will meet you in person once per month for the next 3 months and talk to you on the phone several times per week to help you find work. If your interested let Shawn know I will email him with my contact info.
lewis8457 on August 06 at 6:19 p.m.
thank you john i will try that.
misjustice on August 06 at 6:19 p.m.
Bravo Orphan!
You have indicated in past posts that you are/were a successful business owner; I’m sure that you could offer some helpful job coaching to folks in our community. I hope that Anjanette takes you up on your offer!
; )
johnclarke on August 06 at 6:44 p.m.
Agreed Mis, that is a nice gesture from Orphan.
So I double checked, and all you need is a “referral from your case manager” and they will make you an appt. with career path services, again this a state contract awarded business, not some BS scam or school. They have offices North and Downtown. I also know that they place disabled folk. Anyway good luck Lewis and Anjanette.
Anjanette on August 07 at 1:26 a.m.
To John Clarke: I thank you for your kind gestures and assure you I know about Career Path Services, as a resource. In fact, I applied there for a job helping other’s who are seeking employment (go figure, right).
To Orphan: That is a kind gesture, as well. From one previous business owner, to another…unless you can take a few year’s off my (actual) age, or design a better economic system, I’m not sure what you can do for me, but I certainly appreciate the offer. And might I also reflect, in regards to your 19-year son…if you read my article, then you would realize we’re talking age discrimination, here. I, too, have a 20-year old daughter, and she’s had no problems finding work. We’ve even applied for the same jobs…she gets the interview. Now how can that be, when I’m the one who’s experienced? My resume is flawless…it’s been looked over and reviewed several times, by many different individuals. Even my cover letter’s are impeccable. I have references and letter’s of recommendation from local doctor’s, nurses, management, etc. It really all seems to come back to my age and the fact that I’ve been out of work for 2 1/2 years, now. What do you think I’m missing, here?
drywitt99 on August 07 at 2:48 a.m.
Orphan,
I take back (most) of the bad things I have said about you. :)
Well done!