Life

[ThunderPeel2001]

So now she's talking to me normally, almost like nothing happened. what.

See? You'd convinced yourself you'd irreversibly ruined everything, and a few days later everything was fine.

[ThunderPeel2001]

stuff

You dare ignore the Life Coach™?

[Tanukitsune]

You dare ignore the Life Coach™?

What? Are you saying I shouldn't interrupt the other discussion or that I'm not taking your advice?

I've already said my father is going to open the store no matter what, but now that we're aware of this legal issue I might not have to work there, which is why I really need to know.

[elmuerte]

This is important: I know it's illegal to work while being registered as unemployed, but... Who is the one who gets in trouble if caught? The person working or the person who hired you?

The person working (employee). The employer cannot check, and has no business to do so, if an employee is defrauding money. The employer only gets into trouble when (s)he hires somebody who is not allowed to work (in that position).

[Tanukitsune]

The person working (employee). The employer cannot check, and has no business to do so, if an employee is defrauding money. The employer only gets into trouble when (s)he hires somebody who is not allowed to work (in that position).

Damn, not even in my case? I'm not qualified for getting unemployment money since we are self employed.

Although it looks like I'll no longer work in the new store, but it looks like I'll continue part time at the old store no matter what until I get a new job. They are still going to open it even though everybody else thinks they shouldn't.

Come to think of it, I have no idea if the laws are different here, the Unemployment Office would know the answer for sure, but it seems unwise to ask them? Google isn't helpful either.

Either way, I'll tell them this.

EDIT: Wow, my father just told me he fired me so after a few months of job hunting (that he's sure will be fruitless), I'll be grateful for his insane canned goods store option... That's messed up, right?

Edited October 3, 2011 by Tanukitsune

[elmuerte]

If you're self employed... then being unemployed is easy... erm... I...

I'm not really sure, if you have a business which is making money then I guess you're not unemployed.

But your dad fired you? Then you're unemployed. This thing is starting to become confusing.

Are you good at writing? Maybe you should write a TV series on this and sell the rights. This whole ordeal sounds much more interesting than the average tripe that's on TV.

[Lu]

EDIT: Wow, my father just told me he fired me so after a few months of job hunting (that he's sure will be fruitless), I'll be grateful for his insane canned goods store option... That's messed up, right?

Yea, but now you get to prove him wrong.

[Tanukitsune]

If you're self employed... then being unemployed is easy... erm... I...

I'm not really sure, if you have a business which is making money then I guess you're not unemployed.

But your dad fired you? Then you're unemployed. This thing is starting to become confusing.

Are you good at writing? Maybe you should write a TV series on this and sell the rights. This whole ordeal sounds much more interesting than the average tripe that's on TV.

I'm self employed by my family, but I was fired because they can't afford my Social Security, yet I still work for them and I'll get payed much less if anything?

This could make a great story, you could spin it as a drama, a comedy, just about anything!

If it weren't for the fact I can't get unemployment money, I'd be doing voluntary work while I look for a job... I might do it anyway, this is jut ridiculous!

The genius of his plan if that the store fails it will obviously be my fault!

Oh well, I'll go back to the job hunt tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised if my dad said the complete opposite of what he said today.

I really hate the fact that I have to write a "presentation letter" in each email, I'm not eloquent enough to say I'm willing to do anything without sounding weird, I feel like I have to market myself and I don't know how, I'm a "blue collar" worker! Me no need write good! Me work hard! That not enough?! Unga bunga!

[ThunderPeel2001]

What? Are you saying I shouldn't interrupt the other discussion or that I'm not taking your advice?.

I didn't give you any advice. I just thought that you'd probably respond to BBX's mammoth post.

As for unemployment, it will be different dependent on where you live. As none of us live in Spain, I doubt anyone can speak with certainty of your options. For example, here in the UK you could claim unemployment if you work less than 16 hours a week. You can also claim Income Support if your earnings are really low.

Being self-employed is not a reason for claiming unemployment... obviously. If you're earning very little in your self-employment, you may qualify for some benefits to help pay the bills (such as Income Support or Housing Benefit), but I'm not even sure Spain has those.

I'm pretty sure it's illegal for you to be working while not paying Social Security... although your parents are probably liable (they would be in the UK anyway, I think). Is there such a thing as Minimum Wage in Spain? If so, are you being paid it? If not, you parents are again breaking the law.

Anyways, this whole situation is bonkers. I think BBX had some decent advice, and I don't think trying to claim unemployment is a solution. I'm sure there's a Spanish Benefits Office somewhere that would explain to you exactly what you are and are not entitled to.

As for going for a blue collar job, here's all you need to know:

[Nappi]

I hate the fact that I have to write a "presentation letter" in each email, I'm not eloquent enough to say I'm willing to do anything without sounding weird

The key is to end with

"

... and I do mean anything."

[Tanukitsune]

The key is to end with

"

... and I do mean anything."

*wink**wink**nudge**nudge* Say no more?

Hmm, I'll have to look it up, but I do think that Income Support isn't something a Socialist country like Spain has...

I'm also not sure what's the minimum wage in my country of if we do have such a thing, I had a fixed income, I have no idea what I've be payed now, whatever they can afford?

I'm also trying to tell them we can cut down on spending by cutting back on some things... I'm eating the cheapest yogurt because the stress doesn't let me stomach much else.

[Ben X]

I just thought that you'd probably respond to BBX's mammoth post.

Forget it Johnny, it's Chinatown.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Hmm, I'll have to look it up, but I do think that Income Support isn't something a Socialist country like Spain has...

*DIES*

[MrHoatzin]

Is this when we ask if Tanu gets it?

I kid, I kid.

[subbes]

I wore a skirt to work today for the first time in months. It was weird.

[miffy495]

Tanu, I don't know if this is something that's feasible for you right now or not, but if you're going to be working for free either way, have you considered volunteering for a cause that you're into? Your parents would have to be pretty cold to say no to you working for a charity, and at the same time you'd be doing something out of the house and building your CV. You'd have some experience that you'd be able to use to get another job later, and as you're not getting paid for what you're doing right now anyway it's not like you'd be out the income. Even better, you may find yourself that much more fulfilled and relaxed, thus helping you cope with the panic attacks. Just a thought that occurred to me while reading your posts. If it's not a thing that'd work for you right now, oh well. If it is and you just hadn't thought of it though, maybe look into some options?

[Tanukitsune]

Yeah, that sounds like a great idea, if I was receiving unemployment pay I would do it without a thought, but the thing is..

If I ever have "free time" I have to work for my father, even when I got a job at "in bulk" store and I woke up at 4 AM and passed out out of sheer exhaustion... I had to work for him the moment I woke up.

And when I had a full time job for a few months? I still had to at least do some chores at the store like cleaning...

Heck, he made me work the moment I was back from the unemployment office!

At least he seems to be worried about the legality of my status, so he's making me work "off-hours" as much as he can, which means I still have to wake up at 5:30...

Speaking of which, this is not a good time to have a prehistoric laptop, it's so slow I can barely do any work with it... Including filling up online CV forms and editing my CV and similar stuff... The day practically flew by and I was only able to send my CV to most of the cinemas of this zone, if I can't find anymore I'll move to another sector and so on and so on...

The universe must be having fun with me since it busted the last decent pair or ear buds and I can't afford more and our phone died! Fortunately, like in the case of my PC, we were able to replace them with inferior, but functional, substitutes...

You can break my junk, but you can't break my spirit!

.... OK, maybe it's got a crack or two, but it's practically in mint condition!

[subbes]

[Orv]

Tanu uh, how are the snuffleupagi doing? Seems like you could contact them pretty easily. . .

(The plurality of snuffleupagus is snuffleupagi, right?)

[Tanukitsune]

What the hell is a snuffathing? I assume you must think I'm either insane or making things up...

Things just get better... ING screwed me over and now I have negative money in the bank! I never wanted an ING account, but once again, my family practically forced me to get one... It was some sort of investing fund, but since the economy is going down the drain all it did was lose money.

I do believe my parents where going to take some of the money from this account to fund the store, but greed convinced them to shift to safer option and to open a retirement fund.

They were supposed to put take the money from my "investment fund", put in my normal bank and then put it in the retirement fund, but.... They just took the money! My balance is -7000€ now!

I know they should but the money back, but if they put it in the date they mentioned I'm going to be a week in the red.

Frankly, I can understand Orvidos might think I'm making this up, because this is just... lunacy?

[Twig]

Man, I don't know all the details obviously, as I'm just some random internet dude, but your parents sound like a couple o' jerks. You just need to get the hell away from them as soon as possible.

Money issues aside, what else is keeping you there? Because, frankly, if I were in your position, I would do whatever I could to just get out and not look back. Easier said than done, of course. Still.

[Tanukitsune]

I'm unemployed (yet I still work for them), penniless and friendless? Where could I go? I know I have to leave, but until I get a job, I can't!

[Kolzig]

I really hope you get at least some things sorted out. That does sound like a really messy situation and your parents are not making things any easier with their actions.

I hope you get a job and can move to your own place. I don't know how much the rental apartments cost in Spain, but I still think if you get even a basic low level job you should be able to afford it.

Even the unemployment money should cover rent and basic food things, at least in our society in Finland it's like that, but I know this country differs from others.

From what I remember, I think you wrote you have a sister, and she doesn't live at home anymore? Can't you get any help from her, usually siblings take care of each other and help the one in need?

[Tanukitsune]

At least I managed to solve the money situation and now my bank account is no longer in the red...

Even if I did get a job, I'd need to make a few friends and split the rent, the rent is pretty high here, the only apartment for rent in this building has four tenants minimum!

Like I've said before, since I'm self-employed I don't get unemployment pay.

My sister claims to have had anxiety attacks all the time and that she'd had it much worse than me... I don't know of this is a Spanish thing or something my family does in general? I certainly never use the "Don't you dare complain, I'm a million times worse and I'm not complaining!", yet... I've gotten little sympathy or help from her...

I've told her EVERYTHING! She gave me no advice on how to deal with the anxiety except "Man up! You shouldn't complain and have no right to be stressed!", I have no idea how to deal with this presentation letter, since she works in marketing she could help me, but in the end, I did all the work, I just sent her a template which she change a word or two...

I really can't blame her, she has a baby and a very busy job... yet I just heard she has enough time to learn to skate... :|

I don't know if I'll be able to find a job on my own or not, but I really need to deal with this anxiety, having constant chest pains can't be good for my health, I think I'll be able figure everything out if I could just calm the @#$% down for a second...

Hmm, if there are anger management groups, there must be some public entity that can help apart from my therapist. I'll ask my doctor since I have to see him today anyway.

[brkl]

How are you self-employed? You were working at your parents' store and now you're not.