Courtesy of Beatrice Johnson; Shayanne Gal/Business Insider
- The Unemployed States of America takes readers deep inside the decimated American workforce.
- Beatrice Johnson is 55-year-old help desk coordinator based in Old Washington, Ohio.
- She was let go from her job at the local hospital during the pandemic and has been getting by with unemployment benefits since April.
- Johnson is struggling to find a job in Ohio that matches her interest and skill level, especially with an MBA degree and years of work experience.
- This is her story, as told to Business Insider.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Life has been uncertain since I lost my job. Not knowing what tomorrow holds financially for my future is a scary thought. Since the pandemic hit, I’ve been doing everything differently. I was quarantined with my daughter for months. We stayed in a rented house for days without leaving the house, and it was beginning to weigh on our mental states.
The hardest part of all of this is having my position with the hospital eliminated at a time like this.
The pandemic has affected me personally in a major way. I’d just started working at a hospital in Ohio in the information services department as a help desk coordinator, which I interviewed for and prayed for and received. When the pandemic first started, I was put on part-time hours, then no hours, and eventually eliminated.
Hospital business should be on an increase, not decline. I firmly believe that the hospital used the pandemic as a legal means to eliminate older workers and minority workers under the guise of “reduction in force.”
Because of my age, there’s a clause included in my separation agreement that’s meant to cover the hospital from lawsuits. I didn’t sign the document because I don’t agree with signing away my rights and not being able to apply for employment again with the hospital or any of its affiliates, especially when I hadn’t done anything wrong.
My life has been permanently changed. I’m currently renting a one-bedroom apartment in Georgia, and at the age of 55, I’m once again seeking employment.
While I'm financially getting by with unemployment benefits, I don't think too favorably about the way my state or federal government is handling unemployment. The $600 unemployment incentive should not expire until the COVID-19 crisis expires.
The unemployment application process was a major ordeal. I originally applied in Ohio, where I was laid off. However, after a few weeks, I was told that I needed to apply in Texas, since that's where I worked in 2019. This process took several more weeks. I had to survive for over a month without income. The $600 per week from unemployment benefits were a tremendous help to pay bills, but of course that didn't last. It's extremely difficult to survive on unemployment alone when your rent takes up three weeks of the total amount.
So far, the biggest sacrifices I've had to make are putting payments on deferment and not being able to attend events, movies, or restaurants like I have in the past. I'm just worried I'm never going to bounce back from this financial setback. I'm also worried about being able to find employment that will pay me what I was making before COVID-19 hit.
My job prospects in Old Washington, Ohio, are nonexistent.
Unless I want to work at a potato chip plant or in fast food or retail, there's nothing for me. I worked hard to get my MBA degree and I want to be able to utilize my education to the fullest extent.
For now, I'm seeking employment in Atlanta, Georgia, which is a major leap of faith. I've always wanted to work at Tyler Perry Studios and I'm utilizing this time to go after my dream.
The year 2020 has been one major hit after another, but I still know in my heart that I will come out of this year in a great place.