Jan 27, 2009

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More than Facts and Figures

584,000 jobs. 

7.2%.  

$700 billion.

The news is full of numbers these days.  And most of us who read them (and report them) scan through the figures, or nod our heads at how hard it is to navigate the bureaucratic system of unemployment or get attention for workplace grievances these days, and we sigh collectively over the state of our nation and go on with our lives. 

Because, in truth, most of us still have jobs.  We may see less movies or buy less clothes, but most of us still pay our rent or mortgage, buy our groceries, live our lives.  And the unemployment rate grows on paper or on the TV, but it’s safely contained behind the fence of statistics and macroeconomic analysis.

Then a couple in southern California both lose their jobs, feel ignored by their union, and go home and kill themselves and their five little children. 

From the AP:

KABC reported that the man claimed in [a fax to the station] that an administrator rebuffed them when they showed up to work, told them to file a union grievance and said, “You should have blown your brains out.”

The man wrote that they filed a grievance but nothing was done and two days later they were fired, KABC said.

Surely this man had more than the loss of his job affecting his judgment.  And a tragedy like this can never be explained or simplified into the logic of motives or purposes. 

But I suggest we take the moment to remember that 7.2% is a staggering number of people who want to work but can’t, and there are even more who work for fractions of their former salaries.  And every single one of those people is living a very anxious, angry or sad life right now. 

My point is this:  the DOL’s January jobs report comes out next week.  Let it affect you.  Internalize the number of people out of work.  Be a little nicer, a little more understanding.  I’m really not trying to get sentimental.  But this is the news without statistics.  If you can, find a way to help. 

Here, I’ll get you started:

• The National Employment Law Project
• ABA Labor & Employment Law Pro Bono Committee

If you are a part of a pro bono program in your area helping the un- or under-employed, or if you know of any worthy charitable employment organizations, post a comment below or send me an email and I will add them to the list.