Are You an Employee?

Know where you stand, and don’t be caught by surprise at tax time or when you are ready to move on to another job. Build your work history, your skills and experience in work that you want to do as soon as possible. When you can’t work at what you want to do, you may need to take temporary or part-time work to build a current work history and gain income until you find what you want. Whatever you choose to do, you need to know your responsibilities and the advantages and disadvantages of your choices.

• If you are an employee at a company, whether full-time, part-time or temporary through an agency, you filled out a W-4 form. You may also qualify for some benefits.

• If you are a contract employee, you will fill a 1099 at the first part of the year, and you will be responsible for payroll taxes. You are basically self-employed with no benefits.

• If you WFF (work for a friend or family member), it will help you pay your bills while you look for a job or get training, but you may not be able to verify your hours or work to a prospective employer.

• If you work UTT (under the table), you may find yourself not getting paid for your work, getting caught working illegally or at best have nothing to explain gaps in employment.

You can show that you are responsible and learn quickly if you go through a training program, go back to school, go through an on-the-job training program or do volunteer work. Employers want to see gaps in employment (3-6 months without verified work experience) filled with training or volunteer work.

You may know that you will show up with the skills needed to do the job, but the employer may be skeptical. You want cheaper products and employers are cutting costs. One way that employers are cutting costs is by cutting benefits and full time employees. More than ever, companies are looking for people with a proven track record. If you don’t have one, you can get one. You can get references by working or going to school, paid or unpaid.

Looking for fairness in the work world can keep you unemployed and unskilled for today’s workforce. Once you have a job, and develop a track record and higher-level skills, it will be easier to begin changing things for the better. In the meantime, we can bring a good attitude to our jobs and build better working environments from the ground up.

My Story

I arrived in Sacramento, September 5, 2004. I was coming from Kissimmell, FL. I lost my home because of three consecutive hurricanes. I was semi-retired and loving being a volunteer at the Veteran's Hospital in Orlando, FL. That was then. Four months ago I lost my business. I was buying cars from the local auctions, fixing the cars up and reselling them on the internet. My business partner, who I put much trust in, stole stole $10,000 from the business. Of course the business shut down because of his deed. I then went through a bout of depression, which kept me in bed for 2 months.

I came to Francis House in June for a gas voucher. Being depressed and shy, I just wanted to be un-noticed. One of the volunteers named Sheila, asked me if I was interested in coming to job skills orientation. I hesitated at her offer because I was not here looking for a job. Somehow Sheila convinced me to come in for orientation to meet Nancy. Nancy gave me a pep talk that was so inspiring that I soon became a regular at Francis House workshops. I soon began re-telling my story to other clients. This helped me and hopefully gave inspiration to the listeners.

I am currently enrolled in the Nursing Program at Sacramento City College with a 4.0 GPA. I am enrolled with the Citrus Heights Fire Department as a volunteer, training to be a Flight Nurse (paramedic).

Never give up is my slogan for 2006.
Raymond H. Campbell