Attention Montana folks...BACK TO WORK

[durablend]

https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/may/04/montana-ending-extra-unemployment-pay-due-worker-s/

Montana ends unemployment pay boost amid worker shortage

HELENA (AP) — Montana is ending its participation in the federal unemployment program that gives people extra weekly unemployment benefit payments as the state struggles with a worker shortage, Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte said Tuesday.

Beginning June 27, unemployed workers in the state will no longer receive $300 in weekly extra benefits funded by the federal government through Sept. 6.

Montana unemployment recipients can get up to $510 weekly from the state's program, meaning people who received that amount were getting $810 weekly because of the federal boost.

Instead, the state will launch a new program to give bonuses to unemployed workers who return to work.

"Montana is open for business again, but I hear from too many employers throughout our state who can't find workers. Nearly every sector in our economy faces a labor shortage," Gianforte said in a statement. (continues)


Self employed peeps are also out of luck as they've been cut off. Expect other states to soon follow.

[Horse with no Name]

1. So in other words

Essential workers are our heroes!!
No we can’t pay you $15 an hour.
No we won’t protect you from our crazy customers who don’t want to wear masks.
We need you! Nobody wants to work!!!

[gratuitous]

3. Montana needs you to work

But we don't need you to get paid.

[marble falls]

2. "And spend! Spend dammit, as if our dividends depended on it!"

[W_HAMILTON]

4. That's some bullshit.

[MontanaMama]

5. As a Montanan, I can tell you that the labor shortage here is REAL.

And, we had a labor shortage before Covid so I really don’t know the crux of the problem. Most the businesses who can’t find enough people to work probably don’t pay enough to keep people for any extended period. I know there are businesses such as a local bakery featured in the newspaper who cite narrow profit margins on baked goods as the reason they can’t pay people more...I mean, how much can you charge for a muffin in order to pay a living wage? I don’t exactly know the answer to that question. However, my husband and I own two businesses and we don’t start anyone for less than $18 an hour and they don’t stay at that wage for long. All of our full time folks have compensation packages that we design with and for them depending on their wants and needs. We just had a price increase on our product and it’s the first increase since 2017 so I can say that it is very doable to pay folks well and still make a living yourself.

Oh, and Greg Gianforte is an ass, so there’s that.

[abqtommy]

6. +100 Thanks!