News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A Cookeville staffing agency is already seeing the affects of Governor Bill Lee ending federal pandemic unemployment programs for the state.
Express Employment Professionals Employment Specialist Cassie Lafever said the decision has been a positive with several people already seeking work.
“I think it has been a tremendous problem,” Lafever said. “We hear from clients daily wondering if it is them, and we just have to let them know that it is not. It is just the world that we live in today. We just can’t seem to get people who want to work.”
Lafever said she fully anticipates more people to seek work as the July 3rd effective date approaches. Lafever said there are plenty of opportunities to work with over 300 jobs available with the agency.
“There are jobs in industrial work, we have food service, admin work,” Lafever said. “There is skilled labor. I can’t think of a type of job that isn’t looking right now.”
Lafever said the agency was negatively affected by the pandemic and could not find people to work. Lafever said companies are now adapting to help fill positions.
“I think in the beginning it was because they weren’t paying enough, and people were finally at home with their families and still making more income then they were at a job, but most companies have all raised their pay rate and realized that was important. They even changed their hours, because I think the pandemic made us realize being at home is also important.”
Federal pandemic unemployment programs set to end include the following:
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides an additional $300 weekly payment to recipients of unemployment compensation
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits for those who would not usually qualify, such as the self-employed, gig workers and part-time workers.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which provides for an extension of benefits once regular benefits have been exhausted
Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC), which provides an additional $100 benefit to certain people with mixed earnings
