June 8, 2009

Are you one of the happily funemployed?

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I saw this post whiz by on Twitter the other day:

"I feel so guilty about enjoying my funemployment, but I am."

Among the Twitterer's recent activities: hiking, biking, and the Sasquatch music festival.

Proof that she wasn't alone? A recent Los Angeles Times article called "For the 'funemployed,' unemployment is welcome."

It shouldn't come as any shock that many of those viewing their unemployment as a welcome vacation are in their twenties and thirties, able to live on less, and not saddled with parenting duties or costs. But I've also met folks in their forties and up who are crossing their fingers that their job won't make the cut next time layoffs roll around.

It may not be popular in this economic climate to kick up your heels and yelp, "Woohoo! I don't have to work this week!" Or, "I'm praying for a layoff. Cross your fingers for me!" But as an overachiever who's worked herself into a tizzy on more than one occasion lately, I can't really blame folks wanting to step off the work-spend-consume hamster wheel awhile (though I wouldn't object if they lowered their voices a little).

Of course, funemployment only works if you have a parent, partner, or fat severance package or savings account to keep you and any dependents you're responsible for afloat. You probably won't find many single parents who live close to the bone or single homeowners with a hefty mortgage shouting from the rooftops about the wonders of not having to work this week.

But perhaps the real question for the happily funemployed is this: Will you stick with your current bare-bones budget and newfound work/life balance even after we make it out of this recession? Or when the next decent-paying, full-time job comes along will you return to those heftier spending patterns and higher stress levels of yesteryear?

Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide." E-mail Michelle at mgoodman@nwjobs.com

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3 Comments

Rob on June 10, 2009 12:00 AM | Reply

I wish I was 'funemployed'. Too many responsibilities...

Erin on June 10, 2009 7:45 AM | Reply

"Funemployment" for me has included many more walks through the neighborhood (the dogs are happy about this), has allowed me to catch up on reading. All my responsibilities... weellll... I didn't use credit before and I have credit to use. For now.

I hope the experience of this economic disaster will allow policymakers to re-think our national employment policies. I've worked at least 40 hours per week (when they weren't 50 hour weeks) for twelve years, while paying my way through college for six of those years and am feeling quite burnt out. Not ready to return, though my UI benefits run out in seven weeks.
Perhaps if we return to work only 32 hours per week, with mandatory vacation for workers, more workers overall could be employed, with fewer of them burnt out and not wanting to return.

tda on August 16, 2009 8:04 PM | Reply

i am described as hilarious, charming, and ambitious.
dare to disagree?
http://ambitiousandfunemployed.blogspot.com/

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