HIRE, Employment and Perjury

Last thursday, when i returned to work after a most enjoyable vacation in Denver, Co., i was informed that five employees were laid off, including myself. Half-expecting the layoffs to soon be coming, the news was not a surprise ...the timing was, but not the news. With that, my vacation got extended a few days - unplanned, but welcomed.

Generally the optimist (with a few peculiarities) ...don't panic ...open-minded and fair ...approaching each day as if it's a new or further adventure. Not to say that the inadvertent extension of my vacation didn't stress me some, i was not going to allow this unfortunate occurrence to obstruct my plans of enjoying life. i made a few notifications and gave thought to how to remedy the loss of income, including the possibility of unemployment compensation (although i loathe the thought); activities to begin the first day of the next week.

Those who know me well know how i feel about capitalism/economics, welfare, politics; Where our nation has been, where we are, and where we're going (especially if we don't clean up our act). i despise dishonesty, disrespect and greed. i am a proud Citizen of this country - i love this nation and believe in its greatness, even with it's faults. And it greatly unnerves me when citizens, groups, businesses and corporations, politicians, parties and lobbyists INTENTIONALLY misuse/abuse the system for personal, political or corporate gain, and this on the backs of anyone they see fit, most particularly the taxpayers holding this nation together. Do you see the nerve fraying yet? Our nation, and many/most other nations on this blue dot are in peril because of a virus that too many are infected with and DON'T CARE! That virus is greed.

i could go on for pages about this atmosphere, and i rather would, but i digress. What brings me to write this blog was an incident today - an example. A former employer of mine called me after hearing i was laid off to offer me some temporary work with an associate of his. In the acceptance of the work, i needed to go apply with a local temporary labor source (to be left unnamed). I was handed all the paperwork, sat down and diligently filled everything out. One of the forms did not apply to me, so i left it blank for them to use in the future with someone else who did qualify. When i handed the paperwork back in, they noted that i still needed to fill out that form. When i informed them that the form did not apply to me, it was stated that i still needed to fill it out so they can get their incentives under the HIRE Act. "I can't. That would be falsifying a document." i informed them, receiving a reply of "this is just for our records." We kept the conversation short, ending with "i'm not sure if we can hire you." A decision was made to state on the form that i refuse to sign the affidavit, signing ONLY that i refuse to fill out and sign the form.

Now, i hope, giving the benefit of the doubt, that the office personnel just did not understand what the affidavit stated (although, that is their job), and i hope they are not in the business of scamming the taxpayers. There are most likely many who have filled out this statement and signed it NOT understanding what the affidavit is for. i, for one, will not perjure myself for the sake of personal, political or corporate avarice. And i beg of all to rid themselves of such.

The form i was presented to sign is W-11 HIRE Act Employee Affidavit, in which it states "I certify that I have been unemployed or have not worked for anyone for more than 40 hours during the 60-day period ending on the date I began employment with this employer." I was laid off one week ago. The form further states "Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this affidavit and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete."

Letting the rest of you decide ...