“…In order to address workforce shortages across the state, Governor Mike Parson today directed the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) to notify the U.S. Department of Labor that Missouri will end participation in all federal pandemic-related unemployment insurance programs effective Saturday, June 12 at 11:59 p.m….” – May 11, 2021

Missouri Department of Labor:

Your weekly benefit amount (WBA) is 4 percent of the average of your two highest quarters in the base period. Missouri′s maximum WBA is $320.

Twenty weeks of benefits is the maximum allowed during your benefit year.

And:

….The FPUC program provides that those eligible for at least one dollar of unemployment compensation benefits during the week will receive an additional $300 per week as a federal supplement. Claimants do not need to take any additional action to receive this supplemental payment….

For those interested in doing the math, after removing the federal supplemental unemployment benefit, the maximum benefit from the state is the equivalent of $8.00 an hour for a 40 hour week. The minimum living wage for a single adult in Missouri has been calculated at around $13.72 an hour. Poverty wages are at around $6.13 an hour. Add children, day care, transportation, etc. and you get a very different number.

“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche.”

This morning, from Vicky Hartzler (r):

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
Missouri is ready to take off and boom economically but can’t due to labor shortages and misguided priorities from the leadership in DC.

I applaud @GovParsonMO’s decision in taking the necessary steps to turn our state’s “Help Wanted” signs into proudly “Open for Business.”
[….]
8:24 AM · May 12, 2021

It’s all about the cruelty.

Some of the responses:

Missouri does not have the infrastructure to “boom economically”. Two decades of GOP control of the state legislature has made sure of that.

If $300/wk is causing a job shortage, then those jobs are paying poverty wages. If a job can’t compete with the dole, the job isn’t worth it.

Thank goodness the voters approved the minimum wage increase, right?

yep. those people bringing home a maximum of *$620* a week are really gaming the system.

Wow. Can you imagine hating people that voted you into office this much?

Would either of you work for tips? There is no supplemental PPP included in them. Schedule an actual town hall and talk to those constituents. Do your job for once.

Eat shit you vulture

Why don’t you work for 7.75 an hour!

Previously:

You were expecting something different? (May 11. 2021)