In June '06, I began work at a very small (around ten employees) and very new company. Since I'm a second income in my home, I never failed to offer to stay home when there wasn't enough work for everyone to do, as many of the other employees are their household's sole income. The company was going through serious financial stress and business dropped like a rock. The last day I worked was October 4 and I've been all this time with no work, no paycheck. I check in a few times a week to see if there's anything for me to do, and I always get "I don't have anything". During this time, they've hired new people to do jobs that I could do. I have a specific job title, but since I've been in and out of the business's type of work for years, I'm familiar with all the work that is done there.

Do I have any way of making them bring me back to work? They keep saying "It'll pick up" but in the meantime, Christmas is coming and things are getting tight! What can I do?

Unless you have a bona fide, enforceable contract that guarantees you be brought back to work before they can hire anyone new, no, you don't. It may or may not be unfair, but it's legal.

File for unemployment and look for other work.

Thank you for such a speedy response.

I may be wrong, but don't you have to have worked for an employer at least six months to get unemployment? And is it just six months or do you have to have worked so many hours as well? I was unemployed for nearly a year before starting this job. I am currently looking for other work.

Thanks again.

I'm sorry, but eligibility rules for unemployment are state specific and I don't know them in your state.

In any case, it never hurts to file. The worst that can happen is that they say no. It costs nothing but a phone call or a few minutes on the internet, and there's no penalty for being wrong.

If you were unemployed for nearly a year, and have earned wages for only about 4 months since then, it's unlikely you will have enough wages earned in the benefit period to qualify. See "Establishing Eligibility" here:
http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/file.asp?id=46164
However, it's free to file and there is no penalty for being wrong.

I was called in to the shop on this past Monday by my supervisor, she said to "let you know what's going on". Upon arriving, I found my belongings boxed up and waiting for me. There is a new gal working my old job, supposedly because of a new piece of equipment they plan on purchasing that she knows how to program and operate. Okay, I understand that.

My supervisor and one of the company owners know of my back problems (I'm permanently partially disabled) and I'm sure they knew I'd not accept a position where standing, bending and such is required. They told me that was the only position open. I'd have let it go and just walked out had they not boxed up my things, assuming I'd just go quietly. So, I told them that I'd done the job previously and would at least like to try it to see if I could do it anymore.

I've worked 4 days this week, in excruciating pain, but I'm doing a great job (my 'trainer' told me so) and even though I'm paying for it physically (and a little mentally too) and it's nice to tell myself that they're not going to get rid of me easily. :D

I was called in to the shop on this past Monday by my supervisor, she said to "let you know what's going on". Upon arriving, I found my belongings boxed up and waiting for me. There is a new gal working my old job, supposedly because of a new piece of equipment they plan on purchasing that she knows how to program and operate. Okay, I understand that.

My supervisor and one of the company owners know of my back problems (I'm permanently partially disabled) and I'm sure they knew I'd not accept a position where standing, bending and such is required. They told me that was the only position open. I'd have let it go and just walked out had they not boxed up my things, assuming I'd just go quietly. So, I told them that I'd done the job previously and would at least like to try it to see if I could do it anymore.

I've worked 4 days this week, in excruciating pain, but I'm doing a great job (my 'trainer' told me so) and even though I'm paying for it physically (and a little mentally too) and it's nice to tell myself that they're not going to get rid of me easily. :D


What are you doing?:confused:

Being stubborn and destroying your back is not helping your family.

I am currently just getting on my feet from doing something like that. It is not worth the added income if you are constantly in pain and doing more damage to an old injury. You could end up in a wheel chair IF you are lucky.
:mad: Girl get wise!:mad:

What are you doing?:confused:

Being stubborn and destroying your back is not helping your family.

I am currently just getting on my feet from doing something like that. It is not worth the added income if you are constantly in pain and doing more damage to an old injury. You could end up in a wheel chair IF you are lucky.
:mad: Girl get wise!:mad:

I'm in my third week and yeah, it still hurts but a little less each day, I think. There's no heavy lifting, not much bending, just lots and lots of standing and walking. The few times I DO get to bend over each day, it makes for a nice stretch session for my achy back. And I have a makeshift seat by my table for when I just need to sit. No one's said anything to me about it yet, so I guess it's okay. It's not like I sit down for long periods or anything, just a few minutes here and there.
I do thank you for your concern GotSmart, and please be assured that I wouldn't do anything if I felt it was causing any sort of permanent harm or worsening my condition. I've babied this back for years because of the injury and I'm thinking that getting it back in shape isn't going to be a pain-free process.
Thanks to each of you that offered advice. I do appreciate it. It's good to be earning some money again though.