28 million "stuck in jobs"

[n2doc]

Stuck in Jobs: The New Swing Voters
If President Obama wants to keep his job, Americans may first have to feel more confident about quitting theirs

By Mike Dorning


In 20 years of recruiting executives, William Rowe says he's never had such a hard time persuading the inhabitants of corporate suites to swap corner offices. "There's more hesitancy," says Rowe, vice-chairman of the search firm Pearson Partners International. "You know how to play the game of chess in the platform you're on. You can't be sure of that in a new place, no matter how good you are."

From the factory floor to the boardroom, few Americans these days are willing to tell the boss to shove it. Many of those who have weathered the recession with their jobs intact are now sheltering in place, either fearful of risking a change or simply lacking the opportunity. Since January 2009, an average 1 million fewer Americans per month have quit their jobs than in previous years. Through April, the most recent data available, that adds up to 28 million Americans stuck in jobs they would have left in ordinary times.

That's a lot of careers slowed and dreams deferred. At double the number of the 14 million unemployed Americans, it's also a huge swath of voters who may be in search of a Presidential candidate who they believe understands their discontent. "It absolutely could be the swing group who decides the election, and it could be the group who responds to a third-party candidate," says Democratic political strategist Joe Trippi, who managed Howard Dean's insurgent 2004 Presidential bid.

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http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_26/b4234035499590.htm

[Throd]

1. I have a few clients that I would like to drop.

But considering the current economic climate I am lucky to have clients that I would rather not work for. Beats the alternative.

[KansDem]

2. Man, does this sound familiar!

That's a lot of careers slowed and dreams deferred.

The job I have now was suppose to be temporary while I searched for that career I prepared for. No such luck! I've been at this "temporary job" for some 13 years now.

I'm preparing to remain at my present job indefinitely but if I had another offer that actually used by education and talent, I'd be out of this cesspool in a New York minute!

But then...I'm told I should be happy to even have a job...

[Morning Dew]

3. Yep.

I took a job to tide me over and regroup from a financial setback. Now I'm one of the old-timers there.

[PassingFair]

4. They don't mention the main reason why people can't quit: Health Insurance

It's the reason I TOOK a corporate job, and its
the reason I'm STUCK there (until they fire me...)

[thelordofhell]

5. Until they fire you?

What would you do differently if they fired you and you have no insurance as opposed to you leaving for another job that has no insurance?

Just asking......I'm sorry if you have a very bad health condition that keeps you tethered to your current job, but you didn't mention it, so I'm assuming you just need the insurance for a "just in case" reason.

[PassingFair]

7. I have a family.

With the usual problems, asthma, adhd, kidney stones,
ear infections, etc.

If I get fired, I'd have to look for another job that
offered benefits instead of going back into business
for myself, which we did, profitably, for 15 years, until
2003. That was the year where I had to choose one month,
to pay the mortgage OR the healthcare premium.

I got a job 3 weeks later that paid crap, but came with
full insurance benefits.

I'm a commission sales person, so starting from scratch
will be a hardship.

If we had National Health Care, millions of people
would be emboldened to strike out on there own.

Guess who doesn't want THAT to happen?

[closeupready]

17. you have it exactly right. UHC would lead to a boomtime economy.

nt

[Martin Eden]

11. Universal Health Insurance = Freedom

When I saw this thread I had the same thought. Millions of Americans who would like to pursue their dreams with a different career or start up their own business dare not if it means losing their health insurance -- especially if they have a pre-existing condition.

The teabaggers have been duped into attacking health care reform as if it's an assault on their freedom, when in fact the corporate model we're stuck with is a very tangible inhibitor of personal freedom in this country.

[Harmony Blue]

14. I concur!

Most corporations require that you stay with the company for 6-12 months to qualify for health insurance too.

[DCBob]

16. bingo.. I was working as a consultant but health care situation for the self-employed sucks.

Its hard to get, its expensive and you have no one to help you through the insurance crises that will ievitably come up.

[annabanana]

6. If it weren't for our employer-based health care system.. labor might

take one baby step along that "free market" line that usually only means "free capital"...

[treestar]

8. People who are that sure the President of the US is the one who

is supposed to make sure they have a dream job are people who are lucky anyone hired them. Geez, there are people who are unemployed! A lot of people don't like their jobs!

[Missy Vixen]

13. We made sure he got his dream job.

Why should President Obama have his "dream job", while millions of Americans trudge off to something they hate each day?

[SoCalDem]

9. When employers are forbidden from "offering" employer-assisted health care insurance

people will be "free to move about the cabin". This is the beauty of single payer.. No one is beholden to a boss for the health care of their ill child/wife/self.

The jobs once again become JOBS...person "A" is willing to pay $XX.XX to have task "B" done by person "C".

If no one is interested in doing that task for what is offered, person "A" has to raise the wage he's offering.

[MH1]

12. Exactly! nt

[NNN0LHI]

10. Wonder how many of those 28 million sheltering in place have bought imported or non-union made cars?

And helped move millions of good jobs overseas and think the lack of good jobs is somehow President Obamas fault now? I have some idiots living in town around me that I know think that way. Shit for brains.

Don

[Missy Vixen]

15. My husband works in an industry that routinely hires H-1B visaholders

for positions American citizens are more than capable of working at.

Our cars are seventeen years old.

I am the daughter and granddaughter of union members.

I'll wait for your apology.

[NNN0LHI]

18. Wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an apology if I were you

If my post doesn't describe you ignore it because it wasn't intended for you.

Don

[Missy Vixen]

19. Why am I not surprised?

Apologies are tough for you, aren't they?

:eyes:

[Peregrine Took]

20. Many civil servants are eligible to retire and are over 65 but 'won't leave

their jobs. They are at the limit of what they will receive in terms of their pensions.

I think they should move along and allow an unemployed person/veteran to apply for those jobs.

[sad sally]

22. Statistics show that the largest number of federal employees are in the

50-54 age bracket (312,102), with 45-49 year-old second (295,048), 55-59 year-old next (249,713). People in the 65-69 year-old bracket number 32,135, which is about the same as the 20-24 year-old bracket at 33,736. The average age of federal employees is 47.

http://data.govloop.com/Government/Age-Distribution-of-Federal-Employees-Number-and-P/k5kr-j98h?du

(p.s. I moved along as soon as I was eligible to make room for somebody else, and always remembered the oath I took as a brand new civil servant: Give a full days work for a full days pay.)

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. yeah. "lucky to have a job" is the new mantra

[PassingFair]

23. Just like "Brother, can you spare a dime" was the tag line for the depression.

We've sunken pretty low.

[lib2DaBone]

24. People hold on to crappy minimum wage jobs... just because...

just because... they provide expensive crappy health insurance. We are all PRISONERS to the health insurance industry.

Don't even get started on HCR... we all know what a joke that is...

[Blue_Tires]

25. kick