Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Unintended Consequences - Doper Division

Currently there is much discussion of the number of job openings with few or no applicants. One reason no one seems to address is drug tests. Most employers require drug tests. Their reasons may vary insurance requirements, contracts, and personal preference but it is barrier. Self inflicted on the part of applicants, to be sure, but a barrier none the less.

 The decriminalization of the evil weed, or, in my state (CO) legalization, has caused unintended, or unforeseen, consequences.

 A lesser but real factor is the escalating housing costs in the urban areas where you find most jobs. In the Denver area a small apartment rents for $1,200 a month. $12 an hour times 40 hours times 4.33 weeks less 60% (taxes, federal, state, local) nets around $1,247. Two incomes are needed. Deduct child care and???? At $18 an hour the net is around $1,870. That leaves just over $600 for food, transportation, utilities, and insurance.

 A realistic look at inflation is somewhere in the mid teens at a minimum (real world – not government speak).

 Do I have answers? No, none that stand a chance until the economy completely collapses.

 For a different perspective I ran this by my 46 year old son who works in a factory environment. He is in his fifth year of sobriety and was never a drug user beyond a toke or two in social situations.

 He has no problem working with pot smokers, so long as they don’t get high on the job, and tells me many have as much trouble stopping pot as he did with alcohol.

 As always, YMMV.

 

5 comments:

Greybeard said...

I have experience with Cuban and Vietnamese immigrants. They rent (admittedly small) housing, sleep way too many on floors, and save money until they can spit someone out to better living and working conditions.
Americans? They want to start with (at least) the 3 Bdrm/2 bath home with 2-car attached garage.
We're headed down an UGLY road.

LSP said...

One of the problems with today's pot is the chemists/biologists have got a hold of it, apparently, so it's very strong. This can cause psychosis, to say nothing of anything else.

LL said...

I'm with Graybeard - they simply need to "live like Chinamen". Drop two futons, they can be shared by 10 people so long as nobody rolls over. A pot of beans on the stove, tortillas warming on the hot plate and you are good to go. Not much of a life in Jo and Ho's America? Well no, but madamme Ho? She'll cackle and tell you to eat cake.

Old NFO said...

What GB said... sigh

Well Seasoned Fool said...

GB
I personally know of several shared households. Not saving you are wrong in your observation.

LSP
I'm neither advocating nor condemning pot. My point is drug tests and employment.

LL
It is coming but I suspect the historical migration to the big city by small town kids may become a thing of the past.

OldNFO
Brings memories of my all inclusive cruise on the General Maurice Rose, Brooklyn to Bremerhaven.