Be Thankful You're Employed???

Seconds after the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, I called Wobega and asked her to send me down the newspapers for that next day. The Detroit News and Free Press arrived days later and I was nostalgic reading about my favorite team and reminiscing about the years past when I was in Detroit to share the excitement of the Stanly Cup wins.

After flipping through all the articles, I scanned the rest of the paper. I thought, "Why not check the classifieds? Perhaps there is some awesome paying job for TGIM that would pay our relocation and bring us back to Detroit with promises of high income and excellent insurance." What I found was disturbing. The Help Wanted section contained EIGHT ads for work and three were like those Work From Home thingies! So, five local businesses seeking someone to employ!!! I wasn't quite sure if this was indicative of the economy in Michigan or if it was just the paper that I received that just didn't print a lot of ads that day. Assuming it's the economy, I started thinking how the best thing for us to do was to move away and try to rebuild ourselves financially than tough it out in Michigan.

But, Florida's economy isn't any better. My place of employment gave annual raises every year at no less than an 8% increase on your current salary. Additionally, they would give a Cost of Living allowance as well. The other day we all got letters from the Boss Man saying those raises wouldn't happen this year as money is tight and it's not in the budget. It was emphasized that we need to feel fortunate that we are employed as unemployment is at it's all time high in my county this year. It was also noted that because we are not getting the pay increases we are going to be able to keep our health benefits the way they are which is FREE. I don't pay a dime out of my paycheck for my health insurance for me or my family.

Some people at my work seemed put off by this letter, but I understood where the Boss was coming from. I am grateful that I have a job and excellent benefits because for many, many years... too many years... our family was without health care! It's a scary thought to be on unemployment and have no health insurance when you have small children.

While many people in the country are struggling to put gas in their cars and food on their table, I guess I can't complain that I am not getting a raise as the paycheck I get now will do just fine for another year or so! (I hope!)