How have the Covid-19 lockdowns affected your work?

[andy]

Just curious as to how it has affected everyone.

I usually work as freelance but my work has sorta dried up at the moment!

[InbetweenDreams]

I guess I'm sort of in between. The place I work is a school and we're closed to students but all classes were moved online....because I work IT I still have to go to campus occasionally but mostly been working from home.

@andy Sorry to hear, this is quite worrisome, a friend of mine was furloughed a few days ago. He's having to move back in with his mom, but was lucky enough that his lease was up this month.

[andy]

Thanks @InbetweenDreams and sorry to hear about your friend! In the UK companies that furlough their workers can claim 80% of their employees wage up to £2500 per month until the end of June this year. Do they not have anything similar in the US?

At least we still have our good health which is the most important thing.

That's cool you get to work from home most of the time. Do you have to wear mask and gloves?

[InbetweenDreams]

So the US passed a stimulus bill that gave everyone a one time $1,200. Otherwise you have to file unemployment. Each state is different. I have never filed so I'm fuzzy on what actually happens but looks like in my state the maximum benefit is $350 a week which is about half of what normally make. In the stimulus bill they are adding an extra $600 week if I am not mistaken. The other catch is you're supposed to be looking for work....who's hiring during this? Not really anyone. There are a few jobs at the grocery store and that is mainly due to the impact of COVID-19 and they need people to stock shelves.

Some employers are paying their employee's benefits for a time while furloughed, otherwise you have to do something like COBRA insurance which is basically paying for the insurance out of pocket.

Long story short, you can kind of see why people are protesting about the shutdowns, people literally lost everything, their pay, their insurance and most people don't have anything in savings. If the US did pass something that would pay people each month (there is a bill in the House that is supposed to pay people $2,000 a month but that will likely die in the Senate which is controlled by the Republican party) then people might not be so upset.

[Mark]

I’m off work and furloughed. I’m a manager for a big retailer here but it’s non essential - so until lockdown is over and even then a few weeks after I’m unlikely to be back. I think I’m now on week 4/5? I’ve already lost count.

[InbetweenDreams]

Yikes @Mark are you in the US?

[Meebs]

My bf's work has cut his hours but at least he hasn't lost all income so we will manage. *fingers crossed* As for me I usually do freelance work here and there but have not been doing to much since all of the pandemic happened. Which is ok since we don't have a car atm (besides a rental now) because of the wreck the other day.

[InbetweenDreams]

@Meebs I sure hope things work out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this crap works its way through and hopefully can start going back to normal.

[Mark]

Yikes @Mark are you in the US?

I’m in Wales - UK. So at least while furloughed it’s 80% government funded.

[InbetweenDreams]

Yikes @Mark are you in the US?

I’m in Wales - UK. So at least while furloughed it’s 80% government funded.

That is good. Seems we in the US have been duped, "don't pay attiention to those European countries...it's *SOCIALISM* and it's BAAD!"

My friend who was Furloughed is supposed to get paid two more times then he has to file unemployment...which every state is different. North Carolina you get a whopping $350 a week (normally...my understanding is the Federal Gov't is adding an extra $600?). So yeah, I think all that and general distrust in the government is fueling these protests...and stupidity perhaps.