I have survived my second annual thinning of the herd

[Asher]

What about wage-earners? Couldn't you just dodge that by cutting their hours down?

Alby: Thanks for clarifying.

Not sure how the US states work. But in Canada (or at least in Ontario where I specifically researched this), if you make a good case that they were trying to force you to quit, it's effectively the same as getting fired and treated as such under law. For example, giving them 1 hour a week...

[Kuciwalker]

It's very easy in theory to just save. But it's just not practical for many people. They don't get paid enough and their expenses too high. Many of them are stupid, I'm sure. But much of it is just practicality.

For most people who live paycheck-to-paycheck, there's someone doing the same on 2/3 (maybe even 1/2) that income.

[Egbert]

It depends what you mean by severance pay. It's illegal to tell somebody "you're fired, go home and never return" then only pay them time worked. You'll always need to pay more, unless it's for cause or they're in a probationary period.

Here there is always a required "period of notice", except for casual employees. If you just tell somebody to get lost you need to pay out the notice period.

[Hauldren Collider]

HC, remember the median income in America is not that much and half of America lives below that. You talk about above 'entry-level' but entry-level what? College grads?

Uhh, half of America doesn't live below median income. Mean income yes, median income no.

And even though it isn't much, I know quite a few people who manage in Fairfax County to save money despite having lower-paying jobs, a family to feed, rent to pay etc even though cost of living is quite high here. If you try, I believe it is possible.

[Asher]

Yeah that's definitely not so in America

How do people get paid for work they didn't do?

Because you're required to give the workers X weeks notice (depending how long they've worked there). Most of the time, when you fire someone you don't say "you have two more weeks of work". You just send them home. And because of the notice-requirement, at the very least you need to give them money equivalent of the notice time not provided.

[Al B. Sure!]

Uhh, half of america doesn't live below median income. Mean income yes, median income know.

And even though it isn't much, I know quite a few people who manage in Fairfax County to save money despite having lower-paying jobs, a family to feed, rent to pay etc even though cost of living is quite high here. If you try, I believe it is possible.

Umm... HC... go look up what mean and median mean again.

Half of America lives below median income by definition.

[Kuciwalker]

HC, remember the median income in America is not that much and half of America lives below that. You talk about above 'entry-level' but entry-level what? College grads?

You make his point for him. The income distribution is broad enough that expenses just can't justify not saving for most people.

[Asher]

Here there is always a required "period of notice", except for casual employees. If you just tell somebody to get lost you need to pay out the notice period.

Same here. More proper jobs have employment contracts, which is where severance pay comes in.

[Hauldren Collider]

Alby, remember that we have government run unemployment insurance here, which is similar in function to the Canadian law (I think?).

[Kuciwalker]

Uhh, half of America doesn't live below median income. Mean income yes, median income no.

^
I swear to god he's adopted. We share no genes.

[Al B. Sure!]

Well there IS unemployment compensation anyway for those who live paycheck to paycheck. Granted, it's about 50-60% of their normal income so if they were truly broke, they'd still be in trouble, but it is something to prevent instant destitution upon termination.

[Asher]

Alby, remember that we have government run unemployment insurance here, which is similar in function to the Canadian law (I think?).

We have Employment Insurance also (used to be UI, but that name makes no sense )

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/index.shtml

Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary financial assistance to unemployed Canadians who have lost their job through no fault of their own, while they look for work or upgrade their skills.

Canadians who are sick, pregnant, or caring for a newborn or adopted child, as well as those who must care for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death, may also be assisted by Employment Insurance.

Employment Insurance Regular Benefits are available to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own (for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal layoffs, or mass layoffs) and who are available for and able to work, but can’t find a job.

The maximum EI payout is $468 per week.

[Al B. Sure!]

Because you're required to give the workers X weeks notice (depending how long they've worked there). Most of the time, when you fire someone you don't say "you have two more weeks of work". You just send them home. And because of the notice-requirement, at the very least you need to give them money equivalent of the notice time not provided.

Yeah that does not exist in the USA. Not by law at least. It could be company policy though.

[Hauldren Collider]

Umm... HC... go look up what mean and median mean again.

Half of America lives below median income by definition.

No, median is in the middle, but if you have for instance

1 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 7, the median is 4, but more than half are at median or below.

[Kuciwalker]