For the past 13 years I have been working as an Employment Social Worker. What exactly is that? Well, simply put, I help people find employment. For the majority of my employment life, I worked with those hard-to-serve clients, the ones collecting welfare. Don't get me wrong; just because someone is on welfare doesn't make them hard to serve. The population base is called that because: 1- Welfare. Hello. If you are on welfare, it's mandatory to sit in my job search class for 4 hours a day. 2- Welfare. And they know all your business, and if they don't, they will. 3- Child Welfare. Yeap, if you indicate at all you are not Martha Stewart I can walk across the building and talk to a case manager. 4- Multi-barriers. Not all people on welfare have barriers such as felonies, poor work history, poor credit, mental health issues, drug & alcohol issues but most people lack money to have some of the basics of life such as a car or car insurance or even a bra. (I suppose that's another story for another day.) And finally, 5-most people didn't want to work with a resistant population rather, they prefer to work with people who seek out employment services. I did learn plenty in the years I worked at DHS (Department of Human Services) and found this population a pleasure to work with.
For the past three years, I've been working serving people in our community who got downsized, layoff, the boot because the company closed or sold. I would present our services on site, and then would set up a computer lab and help people get ready for Unemployment. I had plenty of work in my local area to keep me busy.
And then last week, the irony. The notice came. Yes, I received my layoff notice. I understand, I do that the Federal Government has a budget to balance but now who is going to serve those and help those looking for work. Unemployment remains at 10%. No small figure. And July 1st, I will be one of those fish swimming up stream against the current looking for employment.
I wonder, who will be my coach? I am hoping this blog will serve as my mentor along the way and help me navigate the rolls of unemployment.
Irony... yes, too much so.
ReplyDeleteYou Siranna, are one of my mentors that have been laid off...
The peeps I have looked up to... gone to for guidance and reassurance... which has led into deep friendships.
I am not sure WHO are the lucky ones? I had survivors guilt at first... (obviously, I am one that "survived" the lay off... THIS time). As the dust started to settle... and my "sista's" grasped their stronghold... I am left wondering... have I been left behind???
My hat is off to you and the others that I care so deeply for... may you follow your dreams and may this "closed door" only lead you down the path to other open, fulfilling journeys..
You will be missed, but I feel that you are on your way to a new exciting chapter... Prost and Godspeed m'friend...