My husband had a work get together at our place tonight and by the time I rolled in, most of the food was gone and a good portion of the drinks as well.
It was a small gathering and as soon as I walked in, I was immediately greeted by someone who through the course of the conversation self-proclaimed herself as the “Book Whisperer”, admired my book collection and who told me she was unemployed but had too much pride to collect EI. I found this odd as I am not sure what is so noble about gathering debt and not using EI as a transition to the next phase in life. That is what the program is there for, that is why we have that deduction removed from our pay cheques.
I don’t know – I am pretty prideful myself, but thought this was an odd view. Why would one not collect EI if your intention is employment? It’s like having house insurance and then being too prideful to collect when your house burns down.
She didn’t know that Emile and I both faced periods of unemployment and both collected EI, so after a glass of wine I told her it was irresponsible and fiscally stupid to not collect a benefit that she had paid for. If she was legitimately looking for work, wanted to work, then use the EI exactly what it was intended for. Honestly.
February 9th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: I went to bed before the party wound down (wine, you fickle mistress), so she left me a note with her promise to sign up for EI next week and her phone number. I made a friend. One who wants to do drinks.
The Daily EO 