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thinkthrice's picture

Submitted by thinkthrice on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 6:42am

My agency is offering voluntary furloughs from May 15th through August 1st.  My income level is just above the threshold where I would break even on the new unemployment rules.  Health coverage would continue.   I could use the time to continue working on the downstairs apt. (and my garden.)

I must admit this is very tempting however:

1.  It would prolong my retirement by as many weeks

2.  I'm considered an "essential" employee because I run the 911 system and do 90% of the computer work for local police agencies, ambulances, etc

Of course Chef is against it as his biz took a tumble and my income is saving his bacon (it usually does only more so now).

Chef received one UI payment for the week and it seemed to have stopped although he had been going into the portal and doing the weekly thing every week. 

Chef thinks if I prolong my retirement, I'll be kicking myself this February.  I tend to agree.

Comments

Livingoutloud's picture

Submitted by Livingoutloud on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 7:33am

I wouldn't do it. Not because of income. Because of retirement. I am not retiring any time soon but I don't want to postpone my retirement in case my health isn't good by that time or I really don't want to wotk those extra months when time comes to retire. 

tog redux's picture

Submitted by tog redux on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 8:06am

I wouldn't do it, because of retirement, and because, even though I'm a liberal, I do think that if you have a job, you should keep it rather than rely on government money. Those funds are for the people who do not have jobs and can't get one.

In your case, though - if it means someone will be involuntarily furloughed if no one volunteers, it's a bit different. Someone is ending up on the government funds regardless.

lieutenant_dad's picture

Submitted by lieutenant_dad on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 8:31am

I'm always hesitant to take a "voluntary furlough" because it makes you the first one to be cut if cutting has to happen. Plus, unemployment right now, at least around here, is weeks behind. Even if they retroactively paid, it still means weeks of nothing coming in.

I also agree with tog that if you can work, and you need the income, then you should work, or at least not be the first person to volunteer.

Ultimately, being so close to retirement, you need to do what is least likely to get you fired where you won't have in your full time to receive your benefits. I assume that's part of the reason why you're waiting until February to retire versus just putting in for retirement now. If working is going to keep you in the running to retire on time and not potentially get let go, stay. If you think volunteering to furlough will maintain your job in the future more so than working and only puts you a few weeks behind in retirement, then take the furlough. The retirement piece is key here.

Livingoutloud's picture

Submitted by Livingoutloud on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 10:01am

I think unemployment is for people who can't work because they were laid off or furloughed. Unemployment isn't for people who choose to not work. I'd not ask for government welfare if I have an option to work 

Sure if it's done to save someone who doesn't want to stop working, it's a bit different 

lol about conservatives mailing  back $1200. Yeah that's never going to happen. Big talk...

strugglingSM's picture

Submitted by strugglingSM on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 11:40am

If you're scheduled to retire in February, I would not take the furlough. I agree with Chef that you won't want to put in the additional weeks when that deadline rolls around.

Also, your agency could offer an "early retirement" incentive at some point if they want to move people out. 

Exjuliemccoy's picture

Submitted by Exjuliemccoy on Sat, 05/02/2020 - 5:18pm

Logically, you probably shouldn't delay your retirement, but oh, how great it would be to be a fly on the wall watching Mrs. Headlights scrambling to handle all the work you've been shouldering for her.

BethAnne's picture

Submitted by BethAnne on Sun, 05/03/2020 - 10:37am

I think that your number one consideration should be your health. If you feel that your work environment is safe and that adequate social distancing requirements are being implimented and observed and you do not have any underlying health conditions that could put you at extra risk then I would consider staying on and how that affects you on other levels. If you feel though like your health could be compromised at all by continuing to work right now then it is definately worth delaying your reitrement by a few weeks to not risk the posibility of shortening your life by decades..