#gig workers unemployment

[ina-nis]

Personality disorders are usually not considered true disabilities, even when their impact in someone’s life can be so tremendous and devastating - despite the fact that some PDs could even be considered “assets” and advantageous, putting people in places of power or in organizational roles, for example, but there’s human beings behind these “workers” first and foremost.

If you’re in that place where you, seemingly, can “function” well but not good enough to be able to blend in. You might fall under the cracks and become marginalized.

In case of AvPD, marginalization might mean more social exclusion and scrutiny. Then, more avoidance as a result, and because of the nature of employment issues in current society, that in itself becomes a trigger for the disorder: competition, rejection, needing to have excellent social skills, or resigning oneself to solitary low-paying jobs (that might exacerbate loneliness), and so on.

Maybe you can’t get disability benefits, you can’t get a stable job (or leave a dead-end job that sucks the life out of you), you feel unsafe and you’re an unreliable person (or so other people make you feel like it).

If you’re on government benefits or working odd jobs, that might not really “boost” your social life all that much either. Socially, you’re still viewed as “less” than a person with a full-fledged job.

All in all, these are disadvantageous things to consider when building someone’s social circle, and very limiting too.

This paper is related to AvPD in several aspects. Avoidants are most likely to be chronically unemployed or underemployed, job hopping, or working gigs and temporary or seasonal jobs, without much stability, thus worsening the disorder. It traps people in a cycle of poverty nearly impossible to leave.

Long-term unemployment (when a person is jobless for more than 12 months) can have serious negative consequences for the individual, society and its economic system. People who are unemployed for a long-term period find it more difficult to be employed as time goes by (...) the probability of leaving unemployment decreases significantly with its duration, leading to an increased possibility of remaining unemployed. Over time as unemployment continues, long-term unemployed persons probably leave the labour force and retire, enrol in disability programmes, or simply become discouraged workers.

(...) In general, long-term unemployment is more or less a determinant of social exclusion. It is a multidimensional process that weakens the links between an individual and the community. The characteristics of exclusion are related to access to the labour market, basic social services and the social network. One of the most important forms of deprivation is limited access to the labour market.

(...) People often define themselves and are frequently demarcated by others by what they do for a living. Economic and sociological research and studies underline that employment is not only the most important determining factor of status and human well-being, but it is also vital for generating the feeling of one’ meaning of life, social stability and securing participation in society (...) If people are working, it is unlikely that they will be poor (...) Consequently, efforts are made for people to work and earn a salary, and thus be in a better position than those who obtain benefits and assistance in the unemployment and social-welfare systems.

Unemployment is particularly dangerous if it lasts for a long time (for one year or longer). Long-term unemployment not only lowers employability and the likelihood of finding a job in the future, but also causes people to become isolated and sick (Spermann, 2015). The loss of a social network because of dismissal or the impossibility of finding an adequate job causes a serious shock. It can even force otherwise self-assured persons to become unconfident when applying for jobs. Nichols et al. (2013) explain that continuing unemployment decreases both the potential wages of the unemployed person and the chances of finding a new job (...) long-term unemployment will probably also reduce a person’s social capital – the network of acquaintance and business contacts that enable the easier finding of a good, new job. Social capital may decrease with a longer duration of unemployment because the social network established through work contact can decline when work contact stops, or because being out of work is increasingly stigmatising the longer a person cannot find new employment. The erosion of social capital means that the longer a worker is unemployed, the less likely he or she is to find a new job (Layard et al., 2009).

(...) the long-term unemployed simply are not selected for employment because employers want candidates with higher education, more qualifications or experience for the jobs that come open. A more gloomy possibility is that long-term unemployment is at least partly self-reinforcing: employers are reluctant to hire someone others have already passed over.

(...) even after participation in various employment programmes, the majority of long-term unemployed persons (many of whom are recipients of social-welfare benefits) have very limited possibilities of finding a job. Without doubt, such persons face multifaceted obstacles in their search for employment, mostly have low educational attainment, live in areas with inadequate traffic connections, are of poor health or have difficulties with socialisation. Very often, they suffer from physical incapacities and/or disability, have learning difficulties and psychological problems, have experienced domestic violence, can be addicted to alcohol or drugs and so on.

(...) people whose social network consists of similar unemployed persons have greater vulnerability problems when exposed to psychological and financial difficulties, which make it more difficult for them to escape unemployment and poverty. The Acheson Report (Acheson, 1998) indicates that unemployed people, particularly if they are recipients of social-welfare benefits, have a substantially lower level of psychological stability and are often prone to depression and dissatisfaction, even to the extent of causing self-injury and committing suicide. Long-term unemployment is particularly harmful for health (Nichols et al., 2013). It extinguishes personal capacities and opportunities, not only material, but also mental and social ones.

(...) the negative impact of unemployment on health accumulate over time. Burgard et al. (2007) found a significant decline in self-reported health status following job loss, even after taking into account various traits of people without a job. Losses are more pronounced among those who lose jobs for health reasons, but job losses for other reasons increase depressive symptoms. Many applications without positive outcomes lead to feelings of discouragement, worthlessness and depression, loss of self-reliance, and disbelief in the future. Böckerman and Ilmakunnas (2009) found that the health status of those who end up unemployed is statistically significantly lower than that of the employed.

#avpd #avoidance #avoidant #avoidant personality disorder #resources

[justforbooks]

Despite the occasionally visceral and often rebellious nature of his poetry, Benjamin Zephaniah, who has died aged 65 of a brain tumour, had such wide appeal in the UK that he became something close to a national treasure, attracting devotion among all classes and types of people, young as well as old.

With a down-to-earth mission to take poetry wherever he could – and especially to those who would not normally read it – his reach also extended to other parts of the world, where he was respected as a writer and performer who could be relied upon to speak his mind with forthrightness, honesty and self-effacing humour.

From an unpromising start to life in Birmingham, Zephaniah hauled himself into the public eye during the early 1980s by hitching himself to a post-punk caravan of streetwise performance poets such as John Cooper Clarke, Attila the Stockbroker and, at a slightly greater remove, Linton Kwesi Johnson – all of whom eschewed the abstract in favour of writing with a fierce political edge about everyday life.

Focusing initially on the debilitating effects of racism, including through his breakthrough poem Dis Policeman Keeps on Kicking Me to Death, Zephaniah later branched out to consider other topics that were close his heart, including unemployment, homelessness and, as a vegan from the age of 13, animal rights.

In addition to writing novels for adults, he also harnessed his talent for simple language to become a bestselling author for teenagers, with books such as Talking Turkeys (1994) and Windrush Child (2020) that became standard school reading material in multicultural Britain.

Zephaniah was born Benjamin Springer in the Hockley area of Birmingham to Oswald Springer, a post office worker, and Leneve (nee Wright), a nurse, who had emigrated to Britain from Barbados and Jamaica respectively. He had a twin sister, Velda, and six other siblings. Experiencing racism as a child on an almost daily basis, he also felt unhappiness at home, where his father was a distant and violent figure, especially to his mother. When he was 10, after Leneve had received an especially savage beating, she and Benjamin went on the run together.

Living a hand-to-mouth existence, the pair never returned, leaving the other children of the family in estrangement. The dislocation that followed had its effect on Zephaniah: at 13 he was expelled from Broadway school, later spending time in borstal, while in his late teens he was imprisoned for various offences, including affray and burglary.

Poetry, Rastafarianism and an iron will were his salvation. Realising that he was going to face further longer spells in jail or even an early death through gang-related violence, at the age of 22 he left Birmingham and headed for London to be a poet.

One of his first memories of composing poetry had come as a small boy while walking to the corner shop, and, though dyslexic, he had inherited from his mother a great lyrical facility. By the age of 15 he had a reputation as a wordsmith, and when the elders of his mother’s church, feeling he had a prophet-like quality with language, dubbed him Zephaniah (“treasured by God”), the name stuck.

In London he became part of the punk, reggae and alternative comedy scenes, reading his poems during breaks at gigs. His first collection of poetry, Pen Rhythm, was published in 1980 by a co-operative, after which, like Johnson, he began to turn to dub poetry, adding reggae music to his words with a debut album, Rasta (1982).

Soon in demand for radio, TV and film work, Zephaniah played Moses in the film Farendj in 1990 and had a TV play, Dread Poets Society, screened by the BBC the following year. His first novel, Face, about a young man whose life is dramatically changed by facial injuries he receives while joyriding, was published in 1999, but in the preceding years he had continued to produce a steady stream of poetry collections, including The Dread Affair (1985), Inna Liverpool (1988), City Psalms (1992) and Propa Propaganda (1996).

In addition to his 14 poetry books and seven dub poetry albums, over the years he produced further novels and children’s books, as well as seven plays. Among his more high-profile acting roles was a stint as the street preacher Jeremiah Jesus in the TV drama series Peaky Blinders.

In later life he moved from London to Lincolnshire, where he lived quietly, notwithstanding the energy he threw into countless projects. Although committed to widening access and undermining elites, Zephaniah saw this as compatible with academic work, and in 2011 accepted the post of professor of poetry and creative writing at Brunel University, where he was a regular, friendly presence in the staffroom and a committed, hardworking lecturer.

More recently he had been spending three months of the year in China, where he practised tai chi, but, despite his largely peaceable nature, he remained an angry man with a punk sensibility, identifying, he said, most easily with anarchism and observing that “when I see what people have to put up with from their governments, I’m surprised they don’t rise up more often”.

Consistently radical to the end, he refused the offer of an OBE in 2003, and 15 years later scotched any idea that he might become the poet laureate in succession to Carol Ann Duffy by explaining in poetic form: “Don’t take my word, go check the verse / Cause every laureate gets worse”.

His 1990 marriage to Amina, a theatre administrator, ended in divorce in 2001.

🔔 Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah, poet and author, born 15 April 1958; died 7 December 2023

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

#just for books #benjamin zephaniah #in memoriam

[theeonlycatlady]

I'm raising money on behalf of my family. Eviction is looming and we are facing a lot of uncertainty. I have several autoimmune conditions which make it difficult for me to hold down a full time job. However, I am a gig worker and work as much as is physically possible for me. My partner was laid off in July and is still waiting for his unemployment to go through. He has been applying for jobs since then with no luck, he has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. Unfortunately, we live in a small city that doesn't have many jobs relating to his degree. We appreciate any amount of help and if there are any locals that may know of any jobs/careers in town that hire people that have a Bachelor's in biochemistry. Thank you & much love!

https://gofund.me/467da793

💜#gofundme #donate #help #fyp #foryoupage #evictionnotice #ayuda #familianecesitaayudayapollo #familyemergency

#gofundme #family in need #eviction looming #pls help #donate if you can #ayuda #familia en necesidad

[gradsiren]

Navigating the Changing Landscape: Key Trends for Today's Job Seekers

The world of work is evolving rapidly due to technological, economic, and social shifts. For job seekers, this means new career opportunities but also new challenges. Tracking and understanding the latest trends is essential for job seekers to navigate the employment landscape effectively.

Recognizing these trends also allows employers to align their hiring practices with what today's candidates value most. This article will break down key developments shaping the experiences of job seekers in the modern era.

The Importance of Tracking Job Seeker Trends

Job seeker behaviors and priorities are not static. As the workforce and workplace culture changes over time, so do attitudes toward work. Ongoing trends reflect transformations in how people search for jobs, where they focus efforts, and what they expect from potential employers.

For job seekers, recognizing these trends allows tailoring of resumes, skills development, and more to align with employer priorities. When individuals showcase relevant skills and experiences sought by companies today, their candidacy becomes more competitive.

Key Job Seeker Trends to Follow

Technological Advancements Changing the Job Search Process

Online job boards like GradSiren increase accessible career opportunities for freshers and experienced candidates. Customized profiles allow matching with suitable roles.

Job seekers use job sites not just for listings but also for networking, company research, content sharing, and building an online professional brand.

AI plays an increasing role through resume screening, automated video interviews, and candidate evaluation algorithms. This provides efficiency but requires balancing human interaction.

Growing Popularity of Remote and Hybrid Work Models

Surveys consistently show over 75% of workers now want remote or hybrid work options. Many became accustomed to location flexibility during the pandemic.

Fully remote roles offer total flexibility. Hybrid arrangements blend on-site and remote work to balance benefits.

Companies insisting on fully in-office roles may struggle to attract applicants who desire flexibility.

Prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Today's job seekers closely evaluate a company's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts when considering roles. They prefer employers who demonstrate real action on raising DEI.

Offering benefits supporting marginalized groups, transparent diversity statistics, anti-bias training, and review of inequities signals commitment to progress.

Companies lagging on DEI initiatives will have a much smaller talent pool to recruit from amid increasing candidate scrutiny.

Growth of the Freelance "Gig Economy"

Over 35% of the U.S. workforce now participates in freelance "gig economy" roles, with projections of continued increase. The flexibility to choose one's projects and hours has great appeal.

Freelancing is a temporary income source while individuals search for traditional full-time employment.

However, gig roles often confer fewer employee benefits and protections. Unpredictable income also poses challenges for workers.

Emphasizing Continuous Skills Development

Today's candidates understand the need to continually gain new skills rather than remain static in one job long-term. Employers facilitating ongoing career development are most attractive.

Workers independently take online courses, earn certifications, and build capabilities not just to change jobs but also to progress within roles.

Companies providing upskilling support and defined paths for internal mobility have a competitive edge in recruiting.

Factors Influencing Changes in Job Seeker Attitudes

Economic Growth Cycles: In strong economies with low unemployment, applicants have more leverage and higher demands. Recessions reverse this dynamic.

Generational Differences: Younger Millennial and Gen Z job seekers have expectations shaped by the technological era they grew up in. Priorities differ from older generations.

Technological Disruption: Developments like AI recruiting tools, virtual reality practice interviews, wearables tracking applicant biometrics, and more will transform jobs seeker experiences.

Cultural Shifts in Attitudes About Work: Discussions around mental health, work-life balance, and flexibility lead employees to expect employers to provide a healthy work culture supporting well-being.

Persistent Challenges Facing Job Seekers Today

Intensely Competitive Job Market: The oversaturation of qualified applicants means intense competition for available openings. This job seeker struggle has intensified coming out of the pandemic.

Skills Mismatch Between Employers and Applicants: Employers frequently request qualifications exceeding what roles require. Meanwhile, applicants cannot develop skills fast enough to keep pace with demands.

Mental Health Impacts: The strain and uncertainty of job-seeking take a psychological toll. Financial duress and rejection worsen mental health issues. But taking time to recover risks being left behind.

Continued Discrimination and Bias: Despite diversity initiatives, marginalized groups still face substantial barriers to equal opportunities. Achieving systemic change remains gradual.

Looking Ahead: The Future Job Seeker Landscape

As cultural acceptance grows, insisting on fully on-site roles will severely limit applicant pools. Hybrid arrangements will likely become the norm, appealing to work-life balance priorities.

While momentum on DEI is building, much work remains to create equitable access to opportunities. This will continue gaining focus from socially conscious job seekers.

Developments in VR recruiting, expanded AI capabilities, biometrics tracking, and more will transform how job seekers interact with employers. Ensuring ethics around data use will be crucial.

As automation changes workplace skill demands, job seekers will need continuous learning opportunities throughout their careers. Companies investing in upskilling will lead the way.

Reduced stigma and increasing workplace burnout will compel employers to prioritize emotional well-being through new policies. A healthy work-life balance will attract top talent.

Conclusion

Tracking emerging trends among job seekers provides crucial insights into the evolving employment landscape. Both individuals looking for work and companies hoping to attract talent must recognize these developments and shifting expectations. Also, modern job boards like GradSiren are essential for today's job seekers. Their customizable searches and alerts notify you of new openings matching your qualifications and keywords so you can instantly find and apply for relevant opportunities.

#careers #latest trends #jobseeker #job skills #freshers #gradsiren

[gradsireninc]

Navigating the Changing Landscape: Key Trends for Today's Job Seekers

The world of work is evolving rapidly due to technological, economic, and social shifts. For job seekers, this means new career opportunities but also new challenges. Tracking and understanding the latest trends is essential for job seekers to navigate the employment landscape effectively.

Recognizing these trends also allows employers to align their hiring practices with what today's candidates value most. This article will break down key developments shaping the experiences of job seekers in the modern era.

The Importance of Tracking Job Seeker Trends

Job seeker behaviors and priorities are not static. As the workforce and workplace culture changes over time, so do attitudes toward work. Ongoing trends reflect transformations in how people search for jobs, where they focus efforts, and what they expect from potential employers.

For job seekers, recognizing these trends allows tailoring of resumes, skills development, and more to align with employer priorities. When individuals showcase relevant skills and experiences sought by companies today, their candidacy becomes more competitive.

Key Job Seeker Trends to Follow

Technological Advancements Changing the Job Search Process

Online job boards like GradSiren increase accessible career opportunities for freshers and experienced candidates. Customized profiles allow matching with suitable roles.

Job seekers use job sites not just for listings but also for networking, company research, content sharing, and building an online professional brand.

AI plays an increasing role through resume screening, automated video interviews, and candidate evaluation algorithms. This provides efficiency but requires balancing human interaction.

Growing Popularity of Remote and Hybrid Work Models

Surveys consistently show over 75% of workers now want remote or hybrid work options. Many became accustomed to location flexibility during the pandemic.

Fully remote roles offer total flexibility. Hybrid arrangements blend on-site and remote work to balance benefits.

Companies insisting on fully in-office roles may struggle to attract applicants who desire flexibility.

Prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Today's job seekers closely evaluate a company's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts when considering roles. They prefer employers who demonstrate real action on raising DEI.

Offering benefits supporting marginalized groups, transparent diversity statistics, anti-bias training, and review of inequities signals commitment to progress.

Companies lagging on DEI initiatives will have a much smaller talent pool to recruit from amid increasing candidate scrutiny.

Growth of the Freelance "Gig Economy"

Over 35% of the U.S. workforce now participates in freelance "gig economy" roles, with projections of continued increase. The flexibility to choose one's projects and hours has great appeal.

Freelancing is a temporary income source while individuals search for traditional full-time employment.

However, gig roles often confer fewer employee benefits and protections. Unpredictable income also poses challenges for workers.

Emphasizing Continuous Skills Development

Today's candidates understand the need to continually gain new skills rather than remain static in one job long-term. Employers facilitating ongoing career development are most attractive.

Workers independently take online courses, earn certifications, and build capabilities not just to change jobs but also to progress within roles.

Companies providing upskilling support and defined paths for internal mobility have a competitive edge in recruiting.

Factors Influencing Changes in Job Seeker Attitudes

Economic Growth Cycles: In strong economies with low unemployment, applicants have more leverage and higher demands. Recessions reverse this dynamic.

Generational Differences: Younger Millennial and Gen Z job seekers have expectations shaped by the technological era they grew up in. Priorities differ from older generations.

Technological Disruption: Developments like AI recruiting tools, virtual reality practice interviews, wearables tracking applicant biometrics, and more will transform jobs seeker experiences.

Cultural Shifts in Attitudes About Work: Discussions around mental health, work-life balance, and flexibility lead employees to expect employers to provide a healthy work culture supporting well-being.

Persistent Challenges Facing Job Seekers Today

Intensely Competitive Job Market: The oversaturation of qualified applicants means intense competition for available openings. This job seeker struggle has intensified coming out of the pandemic.

Skills Mismatch Between Employers and Applicants: Employers frequently request qualifications exceeding what roles require. Meanwhile, applicants cannot develop skills fast enough to keep pace with demands.

Mental Health Impacts: The strain and uncertainty of job-seeking take a psychological toll. Financial duress and rejection worsen mental health issues. But taking time to recover risks being left behind.

Continued Discrimination and Bias: Despite diversity initiatives, marginalized groups still face substantial barriers to equal opportunities. Achieving systemic change remains gradual.

Looking Ahead: The Future Job Seeker Landscape

As cultural acceptance grows, insisting on fully on-site roles will severely limit applicant pools. Hybrid arrangements will likely become the norm, appealing to work-life balance priorities.

While momentum on DEI is building, much work remains to create equitable access to opportunities. This will continue gaining focus from socially conscious job seekers.

Developments in VR recruiting, expanded AI capabilities, biometrics tracking, and more will transform how job seekers interact with employers. Ensuring ethics around data use will be crucial.

As automation changes workplace skill demands, job seekers will need continuous learning opportunities throughout their careers. Companies investing in upskilling will lead the way.

Reduced stigma and increasing workplace burnout will compel employers to prioritize emotional well-being through new policies. A healthy work-life balance will attract top talent.

Conclusion

Tracking emerging trends among job seekers provides crucial insights into the evolving employment landscape. Both individuals looking for work and companies hoping to attract talent must recognize these developments and shifting expectations. Also, modern job boards like GradSiren are essential for today's job seekers. Their customizable searches and alerts notify you of new openings matching your qualifications and keywords so you can instantly find and apply for relevant opportunities.

#career #jobseekers #key trends #skilldevelopment #gradsiren

[ahhvernin]

Legitimate question. How do workers on strike pay their bills???

Most strikes happen due to poor work conditions, bad contracts, bad salary. If salary is already a stressor, and folks are already unable to make ends meet....How are they getting by when they are on strike? Like this generation is already constantly living paycheck to paycheck and most people don't have a savings. So... how are these folks getting by? Like, if they dont have savings, and they are not working, how are they getting funds to feed themselves? Is there like a general fund to make sure all these folks are able to eat and make rent?

Sure like I know some folks have part time gigs or working spouses, but what about those who rely on THIS job to survive? Are they allowed to get unemployment? What about their health benefits?????? Medications? Food? Rent? Overall bills??? I've never seen or read anything about how this logistic is ever addressed, and its been plaguing my mind ever since I was a kid and learned what a strike was and no person in my life has ever been able to answer this question. ESPECIALLY when some strikes go on for MONTHS.

#workers strike #strike #sag afra #unions #actual question #actual concern

[inkantation-arch]

grizzco industries: a fuzzy, off the books nightmare.

a synthesis of ideas from conversations with @lipsyncdripink & @octaling & @jukkumi​

a few notes: throughout this, i’m going to refer to real life incidents of advertising to youth, workplace malpractice, and the skirting of, and outright breaking of, labor laws.  i will sometimes refer to splatoon 3 spoilers, but never in an overt way.  this post also assumes that the fucking splatoon 2 app is canon.* there’s definitions in this fucker. i’m in deep, folks.

summary: Grizzco Industries. is a black company in which workers are hired as gig workers instead of true employees. By exploiting the Inkling and Octoling prey drive, creating illegal weapons that give them a high they can’t get elsewhere, and preying on the unemployable and too young to know better, Grizzco. creates its ‘bright future’ through harm. The life threatening job, the ( definitely below the board ) gachapon payment system, it all goes hand in hand with Grizzco’s ultimate goal.

black company: A black company (ブラック企業, burakku kigyō), also referred to in English as a black corporation or black business, is a Japanese term for an exploitative sweatshop-type employment system. //  gig-economy / gig worker / etc: Gig workers are independent contractors, online platform workers, contract firm workers, on-call workers, and temporary workers By classifying their workers as "independent contractors", instead of as "employees", Gig-Economy jobs are not required to provide the full suite of employee benefits. 

Though Grizz often refers to the player as an employee, the inconsistent ( or never ending, as in Splatoon 3 ) availability of shifts that are signed up for, rather than having consistent hours, and a lack of actual benefits ( not being paid an actual wage, no healthcare, etc. )  the for the workers seems to imply that the employees are not true employees, but rather independent contractors. The terminology is loose and vague on purpose, in order to avoid the boneless arm of the law. 

* a defense of the app being canon: It’s referred to in game as Splatnet, and is presented as if it were diegetic to the game. It also has an in game function ( ordering clothing from Annie for Murch to deliver to you. )

all ages and backgrounds welcome.

This line, and other variations on it, are mentioned in a lot of places - but, most specifically, it’s on the banner for Grizzco on Splatnet 2′s C-Pod. A constant advertisement for Grizzco shifts, right next to Turf War rotations and online shopping. All Ages and Backgrounds Welcome. Turf War is cool with teenagers, and there’s certainly something to be said about that. Grizzco Industries consistently is seen to advertise to the young. On Splatnet, by taking out adverts with Inkopolis News Time, or on Anarchy Splatcast.

Maybe you’ve had a losing streak in Ranked, maybe you just need a few thousand to make it through the end of the month. Grizzco Industries is hiring, all ages and backgrounds welcome. 

You know how, in the real world, vape companies were caught actively advertising on websites that were targeted at kids, and then it was found that a significant portion of high schoolers were vaping? Yeah.

Extrapolating this further, it has implications beyond just the cephalopod kids and Turf War scene. When people are desperate, they’ll work wherever. That’s where that ‘and backgrounds’ bit comes in. Much like our real world low paying / gig-economy jobs, it is usually the already trod upon who end up in these positions. ( for my own two cents on who this would entail, I imagine you see a lot of college students, a lot of adults who never finished school, the physically disfigured, and non-verbal people.  People who are considered ‘unemployable’ in white collar work - ie, office environment jobs. )

This also sucks in combination with Splatoon 3′s Splatsville, where it’s mentioned that a lot of people do, genuinely, suffer the effects of poverty. Then a nice, shiny company opens its doors, ready to pay the people willing to risk their necks.

As per my previous email, Inkopolis as a whole values independence - kids move out as soon as they can, play in Turf War after school, and provide for themselves. There’s a focus on making a name for yourself. Grizzco certainly plays on that. All one needs to sign up is to be level 4 in Turf Wars. You’re only one capsule away from financial security. 

Actually, let’s talk about the capsules.

the gambler’s fallacy & you

As Inkipedia points out, the capsules in Splatoon 2 are reminiscent of pachinko parlors giving away prizes instead of cash in order to skirt gambling laws. These prize windows are outside the business, and usually right next to a pawnshop, so one can exchange the prizes for cash. Now, Grizzco Industries isn’t running a casino illegally; they’re committing the worst crime of all.

Grizzco Industries is dodging taxes. 

Okay, Grizzco dodging taxes is like, the lowest sin. In fact, most real world companies dodge at least some taxes all the time. But it’s not just about Grizz’s taxes - it’s about the employees too. In the real world, independent contractors are required to report income over a certain amount, and that income is then taxed. 

Now, suddenly, the capsules serve a lot of purposes. Because it’s not pay per hour, not even pay per shift, really, as it’s based on points accumulated and one shift does not evenly equal a capsule, there’s not a wage to report. Scores of employees who don’t have to worry about a percentage of their wages ‘disappearing.’ You just open a capsule, and if you get lucky, you’re set for the month.

If you get lucky. And if you don’t, well, you can always work another shift. Bring in more Golden Eggs, and you’ll reap even bigger rewards. And if you’re farming for chunks for better abilities on your gear, Grizzco’s got you covered too. Even the company store has its own currency, the scales, which require even more and more shifts to get the different kinds of scales. One more shift means you might get to a fight Cohozuna. 

One of the art books ( I believe Haikara Walker ) refers to Salmon Run as particularly addicting, the feeling of power and the fantasy of defending the city, like a real hero, but there’s something subtler too. The comparison to a Pachinko Parlor isn’t random. Grizz is using the allure of bright colors, the thrill of suspense, to perfectly replicate the feeling of gambling.

( in the real world, it’s just good game design, allowing the player to feel rewarded without the rewards becoming stale.  but hey, we’re taking things to the logical extreme, right? )

rare weapons - the logical extreme.

So like, what are the Grizzco Weapons? Powerful, illegally modified weapons, yes, ones that are implied to have been placed in rotation by a ‘tentacle error.’ ( from splatoonus’ post, “If you happen to come across it, don’t even think about stealing it or go blabbing to the media about it.” ) But... There’s just something about them. Maybe it’s the prescription pill motif that all but one of them have, but combining it with the statement that the job has an addictive quality, well...

I do not think that Grizzco Industries is actively drugging its workers. Rather, I think the nature of the job, ‘cooperative’ team job that involves killing scores of enemies that are seen as feral* and using incredibly powerful weapons, with the thrill of randomness, is designed to exploit everything about Inklings and Octolings, particularly the teens.

( * We know this isn’t actually the case, given that they have trade agreements with the Octarians, music, and their own culture, however wether or not that’s public knowledge is debatable, given that the Sunken Scrolls are only ever seen by the player. ) 

They have high prey drives, thus the high contact sport of Turf Wars. They don’t know better when it comes to labor laws - kids are rarely taught about the kinds of protections afforded to workers. ( Even above the board, as legal as can be business benefit from their workers not knowing their rights. Join a union. )  And when it comes to trying to band together against Grizz.... Well, it’s so much easier to blame the low performers, than it is to give up on what seems to be the perfect job. 

pitting workers against each other - for fun and profit!

( I owe this section very specifically to octaling, so, shout out to them. )

A Salmon Run ends in defeat - wether a crew wipe or a quota unmet, you’re brought back early. It’s explained that any excess from the collected Golden Eggs are used for extraction, as the Run itself hasn’t actually ended, and the employees are still in danger. Sure, you brought in your quota’s worth of eggs in the two waves preceding, but Grizz barely gives you 10 points towards a capsule. Upon returning, you’re shown everyone’s statistics, 

And you see someone didn’t pull their weight. 

It is one thing to be in a competitive environment. In fact, it can be really healthy to be in a competitive environment, where people work together to better each other and themselves. Actually, Turf War would be a great example of that for the Inklings and Octolings. It’s just a sport, after all. If someone doesn’t play well, it’s just a game. Some people might take it too seriously at times, but unless you’re seriously playing in the upper levels professionally, it’s not personal. 

But Grizzco Industries is a job. And that kind of competitive, bonus-driven employment is designed to prevent people from banding together. Grizz has perfectly designed a job where forming a union is antithetical to the job. 

After all, you can get docked for someone else’s poor performance. If that poor performer complains, the perfect response of “you didn’t die.” sits there waiting for you. Anyone talking about exploitation, about the lack of compensation for injuries, they just didn’t know how to do it right. The gambling-like hooks are already in the top earners, and to walk away now would be stupid. To risk the retaliation would be stupid. A captive work force, in many, many ways. 

All this, in service of Mr. Grizz’s fuzzy future. 

#【００Ｘ：WORLD BUILDING.】 #and as a reminder my world building posts are free to use for anyone who wants 'em! #um. enjoy??? #this is so much i am so sorry #yes i AM taking the funny squind game seriously. i AM a loser. thank u <3

[mscottbrauer]

A large group of Uber and Lyft drivers gathered outside the Uber Greenlight office in Saugus, Massachusetts, earlier this week to demonstrate in support of employee protections for themselves and similar gig economy workers include the right to unionize. They were joined by activists and union officials including members of SEIU 32BJ and the Independent Drivers Guild. After the rally, most of the crowd entered Uber Greenlight offices to speak directly with Uber employees about their concerns and demands. There are two pieces of state legislation currently put forth in Massachusetts that would give drivers for the companies the ability to unionize, access to a base pay rate and protections such as unemployment insurance. Shot for Bloomberg. (at Saugus, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVsUk6urSj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[gilparry]

[ dylan arnold | cis man | he/him | twenty-seven ] ——   welcome to grimrose, gilbert rhys parry. it’s cool that you’re here, you know. haven’t you heard of the history of this place… anyway, how’s being a newcomer who has been in town for one month, especially since you spend most of your days as an assistant manager at radioshack and part-time archivist at town hall? also, not that it’s a bad thing, of course, but i’ve heard people say you can be a little critical more than you are thoughtful… but that’s just coming from people who are bored here, i promise. to me, you remind me of how soon is now? by the smiths and secondhand flannels with patches on the elbows, a worn leather messenger bag, and the soft whispering call of the forest... hope to see you around, gil.

PINTEREST | PLAYLIST | inspos: haku (spirited away), kat stratford (10 things i hate about you), andy dufresne (shawshank redemption), marco alisdair (the night circus), gene forrester (a separate peace), alice quinn (the magicians)

full name — gilbert rhys parry nickname(s) — gil, previously rhys name meaning — bright promise age — twenty-seven date of birth — july 3rd place of birth — ossipee, new hampshire current location — grimrose, new hampshire religion — atheist with agnostic tendencies sexuality — bisexual education level — believe it or not... but this guy's got a law degree residence — old-home-turned-apartment-building in the evergreen forest neighborhood family — jim parry (father) and margaret parry (mother). he knows his mom has a sister somewhere out there, possibly in vermont, but they cut ties when gil was just a toddler. so maybe he has an uncle or cousins too, but he's never felt the urge to go out and look for them. finances — right now he is the most financially comfortable he's been in his entire life. he quit his job at a law firm a few months ago, so he's still sitting on some savings from that gig. not rich, but not living in the kind of poverty he grew up with. spoken languages — english ability — cebrukineses (the ability to manipulate the brain and its functions)

overview. (tw: child abuse)

gilbert was born to jim and margaret parry in ossipee, new hampshire. growing up, he lived in a trailer in a mobile home park a hop, skip, and a jump from ossipee lake. looking far back enough, he can remember the three of them sitting down for dinner; his mom pushing his dad's hair out of his eyes with a wide smile; a shiny, tinsel-laden christmas tree in the corner; and a small terrier mix named rocky at his feet. what they had was meager, but gil didn't notice yet. he could remember a time when they felt like a real family, and maybe that's what made everything that followed so much harder. after a series of layoffs at the factory jim worked at, there was a long period of unemployment. gil was too young to remember much of what exactly happened during that time, but what he knew was that nothing was ever the same. dinner became a game of scrounging for whatever was in the kitchen. his mom's eyes never crinkled up with a smile. no holiday decorations. his dog was gone. and his dad started to hit him.

always a smart boy and a hard worker, gil managed to secure himself a scholarship to a private school in nearby wolfeboro. the problem was that the scholarship was only partial. he took on a few part-time jobs (working in the warehouse of a tractor supply company, as a stocker at the circle k, and dog walking) to make up the difference. the more time he worked the less time he had to spend in his family's trailer, so he found he didn't have much to complain about other than the constant exhaustion and social alienation. all was going pretty well until his dad found out just how much money gil was making. what followed was their biggest fight yet (though whether or not you could call it a fight when gil never retaliated, well...). huddled in the corner, near the front door of the trailer, gil watched as his dad lifted his fist. he squeezed his eyes closed and waited for the impact. it never came. all he hear was a loud, resounding thud, and the sound of his dad cursing. upon opening his eyes, gil saw his dad's fist connected with the wall. what he didn't know is that he made that happen. :o

fast-forward and one of gil's coworkers rented him a room above his garage for a small rent price, where gil ended up living to finish out his senior year. come fall, he attended boston college (full ride, baby!), and then after that, he turned his eye toward law school (boston college again -- go eagles!). his time in college, socially, was marked by a lot of lies and ducking around the truth about his family and past. he didn't want his new classmates to see him as gil parry: trailer trash. gil parry: poor. gil parry: victim. so he made stuff up until it became too much. all hopes of having a stable friend group in college came to a crashing halt at the beginning of junior year. he ghosted them all. but that's fine. he was certain he was never very good at being a friend anyway.

after law school, gil got a job at a law firm in providence, rhode island. there, he worked in corporate law. very quickly, he became what many of his fellow law school grads called a "corporate lackey" and it was about as soul-sucking as you can imagine -- nevermind the ethics of constantly finding yourself defending and working for corporations, who have no real care in the world for how they damage society and the environment. basically, gil was due for an existential crisis, and twenty-seven years old and with all the things he worked his whole life for and dreamed about and kept him going through the worst of it... well, that ended up being the perfect time to have it.

in a rare show of impulse, gil quit after a nasty case. he didn't like his job. he didn't like his colleagues. and he didn't even like providence. he had once sworn he'd never return to new hampshire, but he couldn't get it out of his head. he started having weird dreams. he's dreamt of trees and faces in them. sounds and voices. one voice sounds like his mother, who he hasn't spoken to in a decade. and they're whispering so softly that he can't make out what they're saying, but he has this feeling deep in his gut. and it keeps waking him up and telling him to go outside. to go north. to go into the woods. he packed up his shit in his apartment and drove his shoddy station wagon until he ran out of gas. and then he was in grimrose. it felt like a sign (though he very rarely believed in those -- though that will quickly change).

he's been in grimrose for a month and he was only able to stomach unemployment for three days. as the vigilant and no-nonsense dude that he is, he quickly found work. radioshack was hiring an assistant manager and though they were skeptical about why a guy with his qualifications wanted the job, he got it. and more recently, he managed to wrangle a job helping out with some archival work at town hall. it'd take up a good chunk of his weekends but since he spent most of his life with multiple jobs, the lack of time off doesn't bother him too much. actually, being motionless might kill him. like a shark. and it's better to work and think about work and nothing else than try to look too hard at whatever the hell he's actually doing with his life.

personality.

first and foremost: intj kinngggg

anyway, gil is logical and pragmatic and intelligent and a bit cynical. he values independence and self-reliance to a truly coocoo degree and because things that should've come freely and easily at home growing up were always treated as a transaction or as something he should feel bad about. he usually does not and will not accept help from anyone, because that means he owes them something in return and he'd rather chew his own hand off than be indebted to someone.

constantly fighting this internal war of like sheer, utter, mind-numbing contempt for people from places of privilege and arrogance while also desperate to be part of their world.

introverted overall ig, he's always like ~observing people and learning a lot about how he wants to be perceived by what he sees and then wants to make a good first impression so no one can ever guess he feels like he doesn't belong/is white trash. secret internal mean streak and i hate to be a millennial about this but def a slytherin.

but to say something kind about him, i'll say he's cautious and he makes deliberate efforts to be kinder and more understanding and more patient. he's just trying his darndest. xoxo

misc headcanons.

gil has an innate green thumb. when you walk into his apartment, you’ll see rows of pots and plants by the windows. it started when an ex-girlfriend gifted him a little cactus in college; it was a low-maintenance plant, but he found that his instincts when it came to the care and upkeep of it came very easily. he quickly expanded his collection of small plants until his roommate voiced a complaint.

he's a big fan of art rock (talking heads, kate bush, brian eno, etc.) and usually has his cassette player and headphones in his bag.

three words: human garbage disposal. if you're not finishing that plate of food, and you make a point to say it's just gonna get thrown out, have no fear... gil is gonna gobble up those scraps. sandwich crust, pickles, a half-eaten side of fries. they're all fair game.

ummmm and that's it. sorry for writing so much. if you made it this far, i'm sending you a virtual kiss to your forehead. :-*

#grimrosehqs.intro

[eelhound]

"What is the historic bloc that we need to build? In France, it’s necessary to successfully realize the alliance between the middle class and the working class, which itself is traversed by a split between people in urban areas that tend to be of immigrant origin, and people in rural areas who tend to be whiter. That’s the double divorce that we need to resolve.

In our history, we’ve never succeeded without this alliance. The French Revolution was the alliance between the bourgeoisie in the National Assembly — lawyers and landowners — and the lower classes in cities and the countryside. The Popular Front in 1936 was the alliance between anti-fascist intellectuals and workers who wanted forty-hour work weeks and paid vacation. May 1968 was led by students and workers. The election of François Mitterrand in May 1981 was an alliance at the voting booth — not in the streets, and I think that’s what was missing — between [civil servants] and workers.

Since then, we’ve had a split in our historic bloc. For me, it’s due to globalization, which cuts like a knife through butter, marking the winners and the losers. We have people with degrees who are generally protected from mass unemployment. The unemployment rate among the intermediate professions has stagnated more or less since the 1980s. It’s quadrupled for blue-collar workers and risen seven-fold for unskilled workers. The experience of unemployment in working-class families is a family-wide experience that haunts the surrounding environment. It means finding a lot of gigs, scraping by in jobs that lack stability.

How do we patch things up and end this divorce? Before, when we said we needed to end unrestrained competition for industrial and economic reasons, it was very popular among working-class people, but the more highly educated weren’t in favor. Today, with ecology, there’s the possibility to bring people together around this. There’s a possibility to say that unrestrained competition is bad for everyone. It’s bad for workers and it’s bad for the planet. That’s one theme, but there are others.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon won two-thirds of the bet. He succeeded in winning over young people in cities, and he succeeded in winning over young people in certain working-class neighborhoods. He was missing peripheral France, rural France, the France of the gilets jaunes — I mean there’s a thousand different ways to describe this, but there’s a big missing piece there. How do we win back this electorate? I’m not saying it’s easy, but you have to start by identifying it as an objective and asking what are the paths forward.

I’ve suggested several things. For example, the so-called 'frontline workers' during the COVID-19 crisis — home care assistants, agricultural and food workers, [and others] — should be applauded as the new heroes of our time. We should ask, job by job, how are we going to revalue these professions on a symbolic level and on a material level? I think that’s an entry point. Then there’s the question of the train system, which you can link to the current problems on the Paris subway and the Paris commuter rail network. Taking up themes like this allows you to shape the reality of people’s daily lives.

I was reading a book by Luc Rouban, La vraie victoire du RN [The Real Victory of the RN]. The Rassemblement National is clearly gaining traction among these professions I was describing. They have a feeling of contempt for not being recognized by society and for being looked down upon. [Rouban] says the strength of what that party says is that it appears like a discourse of real life, whereas the Left immediately enters into theoretical discourse. I think we need to reappropriate real life. We also need to show positive figures from the Left in [rural] areas. There used to be the village schoolteacher or the Socialist activist who was also the treasurer of the football team. These figures have disappeared. The terrain is open, and we need to take it back. I also think we need to uphold labor as a left-wing value." - Cole Stangler interviewing François Ruffin, from "François Ruffin: It’s Time to Put an End to the Neoliberal Era." Jacobin, 20 January 2023.

#cole stangler #françois ruffin #quote #quotations #democratic socialism #political organizing #ecology #labor #politics #french politics #globalization #neoliberalism #capitalism #climate crisis #climate change

[newslime]

Exploring Congress's Manifesto: Key Highlights and Promises

In a bid to regain voter confidence and address the concerns of the marginalized sections of society, the Congress party recently unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, titled “Nyay Patra.” With a comprehensive 46-page document, the Congress has outlined a series of promises aimed at addressing issues ranging from job creation to social justice and women empowerment. Let’s delve into the key takeaways from this manifesto:

1. Social Justice: The Congress manifesto emphasizes social justice measures, including raising the cap on reservation for SCs, STs, and OBCs, implementing the 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and doubling funds for scholarships for marginalized students. It also pledges to address discrimination in educational institutions and promote diversity in employment and education.

2. Unemployment: With a focus on job creation, the Congress promises to enact a Right to Apprenticeship Act, fill vacant government positions, and provide support for start-ups. The party also plans to introduce urban employment programs and enhance social security for gig and unorganized workers.

3. Women Empowerment: Recognizing the importance of women’s welfare, the manifesto proposes cash transfer schemes for women, reservation in Parliament and Assemblies, and job quotas in the central government. Additionally, the Congress aims to implement measures to ensure women’s safety and empowerment.

4. Institutional Overhaul: The Congress manifesto includes promises to strengthen constitutional institutions, protect freedom of expression, and ensure accountability in law enforcement agencies. It vows to review laws related to telecommunications and reform the criminal justice system to uphold individual rights.

5. Other Major Promises: The manifesto pledges to abolish the Agnipath scheme, restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, and expand Article 15 and 16 to prohibit discrimination based on disability or sexual orientation. It also outlines plans for electoral reforms, tax reforms, and judicial reforms.

#Congress manifesto #Nyay Patra #Lok Sabha elections #social justice #job creation

[whendoes-cashappdirectdeposithit]

What is Cash App direct deposit, and how do you receive it in your account?

The Cash App is a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment method via a mobile application available for iOS as well as Android that allows users to transfer and receive funds quickly and immediately. Users can link Cash App with their bank account or credit card. Cash App app with their credit or bank account. Additionally, the Cash App direct deposit feature allows users to get pay checks faster. This is particularly beneficial to freelancers or workers who do not receive traditional pay checks from their employers.

For direct deposit to work properly, you will need to provide your employer with your Cash App routing and account numbers. These numbers can be found by tapping "Get Account Number," from within your Settings menu of Cash App account. From there, you will be capable of copying and pasting this information and then giving it directly to them. After you have received the Cash App account number as well as routing numbers, they are able to begin depositing money into your account. You can keep track of the direct deposit Cash App by visiting the "My Money" tab in the Cash App application. Direct deposits will be listed in the section titled "Pending Deposits." Let’s begin and learn more about it.

What is Cash App direct deposit?

Cash App direct deposit is an easy and efficient method to make diverse payments direct into the Cash Account. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who do not want to use traditional banking options or do not have access to an account at a traditional bank. Through Cash App direct deposit, you can receive:

Paychecks from your employer

Government benefits (e.g., Social Security, unemployment benefits)

Tax refunds

And more directly into your Cash App balance.

How to set up Cash App direct deposit?

Cash App is a good option to get paid by employers or from side gigs, which allows users to make use of it to pay bills, do online shopping and pay money directly to family members. Direct deposit your payments will appear on your Cash App account as your pay check is received. While it might take a few days before it appears, once it happens, you will be able to begin using them immediately! Follow the steps mentioned below to set up direct deposit in Cash App:

If you do not have it installed, the Cash App for your phone is from the app store of your device. It is available on both iOS and Android.

Make a cash App account by supplying your phone, email, or number. If you have already registered, sign in to your account using the credentials you already have.

After logging in to the "My Cash" tab, which is symbolized by a dollar icon located at the lower right of your screen.

To set up direct deposit, you will need the Cash App account numbers and the routing code. Here is how:

Tap "Cash" on the My Cash tab.

Scroll down to the "Direct Deposit" section.

Then, you will see the Cash App account number as well as your routing number. You may also receive a direct deposit application for your benefits or employer provider.

You can share the number of your Cash App account as well as your routing numbers with either the company's HR department or benefits provider. You might need to complete an application for direct deposit or submit this information online.

After the employer or benefits provider has processed the direct deposit application, the money will be deposited directly into your Cash Account.

What time does the direct deposit arrive on the Cash App?

The exact timeframe for direct deposits to accounts through Cash App can differ depending on a variety of factors, such as the agency of an employer or government that sends funds, the bank of access for individuals and corporate accounts, etc. Most direct deposits are made early on the day of payday; however, this timing can vary. Sometimes you may notice that Cash App direct deposit time is delayed.

The pending deposits can require up to 7 days prior to becoming available in the Cash App balance. Most of them will be accessible within a single day of being requested by your employer. If you require access to your funds faster, an immediate withdrawal from the Cash App could be requested for an additional cost. If you need assistance in setting up direct deposits or in any other part of your account with Cash App, Customer Support can offer guidance and address any questions. They also can assist in setting regular payments to provide an easy method of getting the money on time.

FAQ

How long does it take for Cash App Direct Deposit to arrive?

Usually, the Cash App direct deposits will be credited to your account the same day as they are processed by your employer or Benefits Company. The exact date could vary. Therefore, it is recommended that you inquire with your employer for specific information.

Can I use Cash App Direct Deposit for government benefits like Social Security or unemployment payments?

Yes, you can use Cash App Direct Deposit to get government benefits, such as Social Security and unemployment payments.

Can I set up multiple Direct Deposits in the Cash App?

Yes, you can create multiple direct deposits within the Cash App. If you have several sources of income or receive payments from various organizations, you can provide the Cash App account as well as routing numbers to each one of them.

#Cash App Direct Deposit

[jakethesequel]

It's kind of interesting how a lot of people seem to think you can cleanly separate AI art discussions into two subjects: One focused on the aesthetic or philosophical merits of it, questions like "is AI art real art," "can an AI make something truly creative," and whatnot; and the other supposed focused on the material, labour concerns, questions about it putting artists out of work, or whether it's uncompensated plagiarism, or how it can be disrespectful of an artist's wishes. Honestly, I don't think they're as separate as people like to believe! It's incredibly difficult to have a discussion about art, even as in the-material-working-conditions-of-professional-artists, that art is created for its aesthetic value. (Longer rambling below cut)

Can you really have a discussion about the material labour conditions of professional artists without stumbling into the realm of the aesthetic? I'm not sure you can! The very fact that "professional artist" is a career option already says something about the aesthetic values of our society. At the very least, it says that we value the prescence of aesthetic choices over their absence, because we pay people to create aesthetic experiences for us. If your concerns are solely material labour issues, how do we ignore the fact that artists have never been employed on a solely material basis? Aesthetic judgments have always factored in to a professional artist's success.

Let's say your material concern is that adoption of AI art is taking jobs away from artists, and you're either disinterested in aesthetic debates about whether AI art is "real" art, or you personally don't believe in the difference. (We'll set aside for now the question of whether neutrality on the topic is implicitly biased towards the pro-AI side because unfettered AI could generate so much spam it becomes impossible to even find the so-called real art covered by the AI haystack.) Some artists can learn the AI-art process and stay employed (though many will be unwilling to do that, primarily for aesthetic motivations), but even then the conditions are such that one human AI-assistant can take the job of say 10 pro artists. So we're still looking at a lot of people facing unemployment, which is indeed a material labour concern. But we don't see people being quite so loud about robotic welding machines for example, which can have a similar effect on the workforce of a skilled trade. Maybe you're different, though, and you take those two issues equally seriously. A common suggestion, at least on parts of the left, is that workers put out of a job by increased automation should be able to return to post-secondary education for no cost, allowing them to gain the skills needed to get work in a new field. That's a solution that has its places, I for one think it'd be a great way to transition from carbon fuels to renewable energy without laying off an ungodly number of blue-collar workers.

Should we apply that to artists put out of a job by AI art? Give them a free ride back to college/uni to pursue a different career? I don't think so, but I'm sure somebody somewhere has suggested it, so let's consider its implementation. I don't think it would be very popular. For one, how many pro artists already have a second job or career to support their artistic success? Will they get to go back to school freely and try to find a new passion, or since they already have a non-art career will they be pushed to take their backup gig full-time? For another, while most people have no investment in whether John-Paul works as a pipeline welder or gets re-certified as a solar panel installer, a significant portion of the general public is going to be unhappy if all their favorite artists are pushed into new careers and replaced by AI models. (The artists themselves might have similar protestations.) While you might argue this solution solves the problem of unemployment, its complete surrender to AI dominance over the art industry might make it too controversial to gain support. If this material solution is to take place in a democratic society, the aesthetic opinions of the voting public still have to be contended with. For a small third, there are also artists who have tried other careers and been unable to find success in things other than art, whether due to educational skills, disability, or just general suitability. There will be always be those who take the proposed free ride back to school and then fail. You can argue for better unemployment or disability support, maybe UBI, whatever, but those can be some pretty big social supports to enact. It's worth considering whether pushing someone into unemployment and likely poverty until the eventual time that better social supports are established is a price worth paying for the few benefits of unregulated AI art.

Lastly, and most importantly, how many artists would even be satisfied with this solution? Let alone happy with it! How many artists do you know who would say they chose it as their career because of its reliable pay and long-term employment prospects? How many artists do you know who had the option of an alternate career (maybe even several) but turned them all away because focusing on their art was so important to them, and worth the risky business of trying to make an art career work? Many -- I'd say most -- professional artists don't become such because of the material benefits included, those are few and far between. No, they become professional artists because they place such a high aesthetic value on creating art! You can't ignore that artists become artists for aesthetic purposes, and artists often have very strongly-held aesthetic beliefs! A ton are going to react to anyone suggesting "AI art is no different really, there's nothing that can prevent it from dominating your industry and costing you work, best thing we can do is let you pick a new career" by telling you to fuck off in a variety of ornate ways. Even the professional artists who don't hate AI art won't likely be receptive to idea that it'll render human art irrelevant, most of them are holding onto hope that they can coexist without anyone losing their job. Are any of them going to feel positively about being told human art is so dead they’re basically guaranteed unemployment and should go back to school? You think they haven't already heard "there's no money in that career, you should go back to school and get a real job" from everyone in their lives? If they didn't listen when it was their parents telling them, why would they be satisfied when it carries the added aesthetic insult of suggesting that all that they value in art can be reproduced without the artist? That free education solution can help fix the material problem of artists made unemployed by AI, but those former artists are going to remain extremely unsatisfied that they're denied the one thing they aesthetically value more than anything else, and some might even outright refuse the solution on those grounds. The material solution doesn't reckon with the artists' aesthetic motivations!

Bit of a rant exploring that example, but I think it serves well the point: There's not a clean separation between "material" and/or "aesthetic" arguments about AI art. It exists in the material world, so there's always going to be a material lens. But it also involves art, so there's always an aesthetic element to the discussion. Trying to avoid either and keep the discussion within a walled-off section of philosophy will just make you ignore vital points!

[wausaupilot]

Wisconsin Supreme Court hears arguments in case involving 'gig workers,' state unemployment fund

The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case that could hold broad implications for the state's "gig economy" and how companies like Amazon pay into a fund for unemployed workers.

By Shawn Johnson | Wisconsin Public Radio The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case that could hold broad implications for the state’s “gig economy” and how companies like Amazon pay into a fund for unemployed workers. Justices are being asked to resolve a dispute between Amazon Logistics, Inc. and multiple state agencies that found the arm of the retail giant owed more than…

View On WordPress

#Amazon #gig workers #Wisconsin Supreme Court

[bestarion]

8 Common Payroll Compliance Errors to Avoid in 2024

In today’s complex regulatory landscape, payroll compliance remains a critical aspect for businesses. Accurate payroll processing not only ensures employees are paid correctly and on time but also helps companies remain compliant with various tax laws, labor regulations, and other legal obligations. However, even with sophisticated payroll software and technology, errors can occur, leading to compliance issues that can have severe consequences. For payroll services companies like CPA Firms, avoiding these common mistakes is crucial to maintaining their clients’ trust and compliance integrity in 2024.

Introduction

Payroll services companies like CPA Firms play a pivotal role in managing payroll tasks for multiple clients, spanning diverse industries and geographical locations. They handle payroll processing, tax calculations, reporting, and ensuring adherence to numerous regulations. However, the complexity of regulations and frequent updates in laws and tax codes present challenges that can lead to costly mistakes if not addressed proactively.

Read more: 10 Key Considerations for CPA Firms Choosing a Payroll Partner

Top Common Payroll Compliance Mistakes

1. Misclassification of Workers

One of the most prevalent and consequential errors in payroll compliance involves the misclassification of workers. This mistake often arises when distinguishing between employees and independent contractors. 

The distinction between employees and independent contractors holds substantial legal significance. Employees typically work under the direct control and supervision of the employer, while independent contractors generally have more autonomy in their work. However, due to the complexity of this distinction and the varying nature of work arrangements, misclassification can inadvertently occur.

The consequences of misclassification are multifaceted. Employees are entitled to various protections and benefits, such as minimum wage, overtime pay, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance, whereas independent contractors typically do not receive these benefits. Misclassifying workers can lead to legal disputes, penalties, and financial repercussions for businesses.

In the evolving landscape of employment models in 2024, characterized by the increasing prevalence of the gig economy and remote work, accurately classifying workers has become more complex yet crucial. Adhering to IRS guidelines and state regulations regarding worker classification is essential to avoid potential legal liabilities and ensure compliance in payroll management.

2. Inaccurate Record Keeping

Maintaining precise and up-to-date records stands as a cornerstone of payroll compliance. Errors in timekeeping, attendance, or leave accruals can result in incorrect payments, violating Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations, and leading to compliance issues. Despite technological advancements easing record-keeping processes, stringent vigilance remains necessary to ensure the accuracy of data. This includes meticulous tracking of employee work hours, leaves, and any other relevant information vital for payroll calculations.

In the landscape of 2024, with the workforce increasingly embracing hybrid and remote work setups, the importance of accurate record-keeping has surged, demanding robust systems that account for various work modalities.

3. Late or Incorrect Filings

The significance of punctual and error-free payroll tax filings and documentation cannot be overstated. Ensuring that payroll taxes are filed in a timely manner and that all necessary documentation is accurate is pivotal. Late submissions or inaccuracies in tax filings not only incur penalties but also attract interest charges, further complicating the financial aspect for businesses. The constantly evolving tax landscape, marked by frequent adjustments in laws and regulations, underscores the importance of staying abreast of these changes. Remaining updated and submitting precise filings aligns with compliance standards in 2024, safeguarding businesses against penalties and ensuring financial prudence.

4. Non-compliance with Local Tax Regulations

The intricate network of diverse tax rates, laws, and regulations across different states and localities demands meticulous attention to detail. Failure to adhere to these regional nuances can result in severe penalties for businesses. The prevailing trend of remote work gaining prominence in 2024 intensifies this challenge for payroll service providers. It becomes imperative for these entities to adopt robust mechanisms that accurately account for employees’ varying locations. By doing so, payroll service providers can ensure adherence to local tax laws, thereby mitigating the risks associated with non-compliance and preserving the financial integrity of businesses.

5. Ignoring Legislative Changes

The dynamic nature of employment laws, tax codes, and regulations necessitates an unwavering commitment to ongoing monitoring and adaptation. Neglecting to incorporate these legislative changes into payroll systems and processes can lead to substantial non-compliance issues. In the landscape of 2024, characterized by swift and frequent changes in regulatory frameworks, staying well-informed about legislative updates is imperative for businesses. Promptly implementing necessary changes in payroll systems ensures alignment with the latest legal requirements, enabling businesses to navigate the regulatory landscape smoothly and maintain robust compliance standards.

6. Security Breaches and Data Protection

The escalating threat landscape of cyberattacks underscores the criticality of safeguarding sensitive payroll data. A breach in security not only jeopardizes confidential employee information but also exposes businesses to regulatory non-compliance repercussions. In the current climate of 2024, characterized by increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, payroll service companies are mandated to allocate resources toward robust cybersecurity measures.

Investing in state-of-the-art technologies and adopting stringent protocols for data encryption, access control, and threat monitoring is imperative. Moreover, ensuring compliance with stringent data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is non-negotiable. Adherence to these regulations is contingent on the jurisdiction in which the business operates, necessitating meticulous compliance efforts to avert data breaches and associated legal liabilities.

7. Manual Errors in Calculations

Despite the integration of automation in payroll processes, the persistence of manual errors in calculations remains a concern. These errors can have far-reaching consequences, resulting in incorrect payments, dissatisfied employees, and compliance issues for businesses. As businesses navigate the landscape of 2024, the adoption of advanced payroll software emerges as a pivotal strategy to curtail such errors. These software solutions often feature advanced algorithms and built-in validation checks that minimize the likelihood of computational mistakes. Additionally, conducting regular audits of payroll data serves as a proactive measure to identify and rectify any discrepancies, thereby mitigating errors and ensuring accurate payroll disbursements.

8. Failure to Provide Accurate Employee Information

Inaccurate or incomplete employee information poses significant challenges during tax filings and audits, potentially leading to compliance issues for businesses. Regular verification and updates of employee details emerge as indispensable practices for maintaining compliance in payroll operations. In the evolving landscape of 2024, the accuracy of personal information, tax withholding forms, and direct deposit details assume heightened importance for seamless payroll processing.

Mitigating Payroll Compliance Risks

Mitigating payroll compliance risks is paramount for businesses to uphold legal standards, avoid penalties, and maintain operational efficiency. To achieve this, several proactive measures can be undertaken:

1. Comprehensive Training and Education

Investing in continuous training programs and educational initiatives for payroll personnel is crucial. Ensuring that staff are well-versed in the latest regulatory updates, compliance requirements, and best practices equips them to navigate complex payroll processes accurately. Regular training sessions help in fostering a culture of compliance within the organization.

2. Robust Automation and Integration

Implementing advanced payroll systems that automate calculations, tax deductions, and reporting processes is pivotal. Integration of payroll software with HR and accounting systems streamlines data flow, minimizes manual errors, and enhances accuracy in compliance-related tasks.

3. Ongoing Audits and Reviews

Conducting regular internal audits of payroll procedures aids in identifying potential discrepancies or errors. These audits offer insights into areas that necessitate improvement, enabling timely rectification of compliance issues before they escalate.

4. Collaboration with Compliance Experts

Establishing partnerships or seeking guidance from legal and compliance experts ensures that payroll operations align with evolving regulatory requirements. Their expertise helps in interpreting complex laws, minimizing risks, and staying ahead of compliance challenges.

5. Enhanced Data Security Measures

Given the rising cyber threats, prioritizing data security is imperative. Implementing robust cybersecurity protocols and adhering to data protection laws fortifies the safeguarding of sensitive payroll information, reducing the likelihood of breaches and associated compliance issues.

6. Real-time Monitoring of Regulatory Changes

Staying abreast of legislative updates and regulatory changes in real-time is essential. Establishing mechanisms to monitor and promptly incorporate these changes into payroll systems ensures ongoing compliance with the latest legal requirements.

7. Documentation and Record-keeping

Maintaining meticulous records and documentation is fundamental for compliance. Accurate record-keeping of employee details, tax filings, and relevant documentation facilitates seamless audits and regulatory compliance.

8. Regular External Reviews and Assessments

Periodic external assessments by independent auditors or compliance consultants offer an unbiased evaluation of payroll processes. These reviews identify potential gaps or non-compliance issues, enabling organizations to take corrective actions promptly.

By adopting a proactive approach encompassing training, technology utilization, rigorous auditing, expert collaboration, data security measures, and staying updated with regulatory changes, businesses can effectively mitigate payroll compliance risks. Prioritizing these strategies ensures smoother payroll operations, reduces legal liabilities, and enhances overall compliance adherence.

Read more: Top 10 Payroll Tips for Small Business Owners

Why CPA Firms Choose to Outsource Payroll To Bestarion?

Outsourcing your payroll tasks to Bestarion offers CPA firms a multitude of benefits, ensuring comprehensive services and robust protection for their business operations. With a high satisfaction rate among customers, nearly 99% attesting to Bestarion’s superior assistance in complying with payroll taxes and regulations compared to their previous providers, here’s why partnering with us is advantageous:

1. Quick and Error-free Payroll Processing

Bestarion guarantees swift and precise payroll processing, reducing the likelihood of errors. Our streamlined systems ensure accuracy while expediting the payroll cycle, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.

2. Automated Tax Calculations and Payments

Our sophisticated systems automatically calculate and deduct taxes, ensuring compliance with tax regulations. Tax payments are managed seamlessly, minimizing the burden on CPA firms and reducing the risk of miscalculations.

3. Comprehensive Reporting

We provide comprehensive quarterly and annual reporting, facilitating smoother tax filings and audits. Detailed reports aid CPA firms in efficiently managing and analyzing payroll data.

4. Unemployment Insurance Claims Administration

Bestarion offers support in managing unemployment insurance claims, assisting CPA firms in navigating this complex aspect of payroll administration.

6. Integrated Time-Tracking Capabilities

Bestarion’s integrated time-tracking features streamline the recording and management of employee work hours, ensuring accurate payroll calculations and compliance with labor regulations.

7. Compliance Monitoring Across All 50 States

We meticulously monitor compliance requirements across all 50 states, ensuring that CPA firms and their clients adhere to the specific payroll regulations in each state, minimizing the risk of non-compliance penalties.

Partnering with Bestarion for payroll outsourcing empowers CPA firms to focus on core competencies while entrusting payroll-related tasks to a reliable and efficient service provider. Our comprehensive suite of services, coupled with advanced technology and compliance expertise, ensures accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with regulatory requirements across the board.

Conclusion

In the dynamic regulatory environment of 2024, payroll compliance is a challenging yet critical aspect for payroll services companies. By avoiding common mistakes such as misclassification of workers, inaccurate record-keeping, late filings, and non-compliance with local tax regulations, these companies can maintain accuracy, efficiency, and legal adherence in their payroll operations. Embracing technology, continuous training, regular audits, and collaboration with compliance experts are pivotal in ensuring compliance and mitigating risks associated with payroll processing. Ultimately, a proactive approach coupled with robust systems and adherence to best practices will help payroll services companies navigate the complexities of compliance in 2024 and beyond.

Read more: 

How Much Does Outsourcing Payroll Services Cost?

Payroll Trends that Will Shape the Future of Payroll Processing

Outsourcing Payroll Service: The Complete Guide

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Unemployment

There are some that say that a "certain level of unemployment is good" while some see any unemployment as a bad thing.

So how can either be a good or bad thing?

How people think about employment? Some people, like myself, view personal projects, or self-employment as a viable thing. And when we see 0% unemployment, that suggests that there are people in that number who are at least self-employed.

On the other hand, 0% unemployment means that there is nobody who is retired, or on sabbatical, or otherwise able to pursue opportunities outside of strictly being employed by another entity.

So people view 0% unemployment as the inability to do anything *except* work for an already existing entity.

Other people would view 0% unemployment as a bald-faced lie.

So how much unemployment is a good thing? That depends on whether or not people have the capital to pursue the activities they feel like. If there isn't enough around, then 0% or 50% unemployment is a bad thing.

If there is 50% unemployment, but otherwise enough $$ to go around without affecting inflation to the negative, then it's a great thing.

The optimal number I hear from analysts is around 25-30%. Approximately 15-18% of the population should be elderly or retired. (And theoretically, they should be free to pursue and explore new tech and learning opportunities in order to improve it for the youth, but we see how that turned out.)

That leaves 2-12% of the population that should be on gap year, sabbatical, pregnancy, or child rearing.

But 0% unemployment? Either everybody set up an L.L.C. and are hustling every street, or they're working for door dash and Uber, or they're all employed by the jobs complaining about lack of workers.

Probably working for gig economy apps.

Which means we have an excess of gig economy workers in a bad way. Everybody is delivering, and nobody is doing much anything else.

Maybe.

Or maybe the unemployment rate *only* measures people currently receiving unemployment.