TRUMP PAYROLL TAX DEFERMENT – EXTRA MONEY NOW, DOUBLE TAXES LATER QUESTION: I read that President Trump issued an Executive Order getting rid of Social Security taxes until December. So far, I haven’t seen anything more in my paycheck. When does it start? ANSWER: First, a point of clarification: The president’s August 8, 2020, Memorandum (not quite the same as an Executive Order)…
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Image via Pexels The pandemic has changed life for almost everyone, whether it’s coping with self-isolation or dealing with losing a job. While some changes might be by choice, others are out of our control, such as losing the ability to attend large gatherings and having to cancel travel plans. There are both short- and long-term benefits and challenges to…
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SOMEONE AT WORK HAS COVID. WORKERS WANT TO KNOW WHO QUESTION: I work in a big box store. Last week, some of us received a note stating a person on our shift had tested positive for Covid-19. The person was not identified. We want to know who it is, so we will now how much we interacted with him or her,…
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UNEMPLOYED AND ANXIOUS: WHEN WILL BENEFITS RUN OUT? QUESTION: I was laid off in April, and have been receiving unemployment for almost 20 weeks, which I was told is the maximum time I can receive benefits. Until last month, I was doing OK, because I received the extra $600 every week. Now, I’m afraid my benefits will run out and…
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PAID TIME OFF WAITING FOR COVID-19 RESULTS? YOU BETCHA! QUESTION: After going to visit family up north, I came down with a sore throat and a cough. I informed my employer, who told me to get tested for COVID-19, and not to come back to work until I had a negative test. I do not have health insurance, so I…
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GET NEW MASK OR GET NEW JOB: WORKER’S ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’ MASK CAUSES TROUBLE QUESTION: Wearing a mask is mandatory where I work, in a large retail establishment. While most people just wear plain medical-looking masks, others personalize their masks, with patterns or colors etc. I decided to wear a black mask with the letters BLM (for Black Lives Matter)…
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Dear Christine, Overreacting in Oregon
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If you’re a dog owner with a yard, the chances of your dog getting curious about a skunk sometime in its lifetime is pretty high. Dogs are naturally curious, so if they see a skunk while out doing their business, they’re going to want to say hi, whether the skunk wants them to or not. Although dealing with a skunk’s…
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Dear Christine, I’m a single gay man living in Ferndale with 2 gay roommates. During this pandemic, we’ve all been on unemployment income and have been riding it out safely at home. Lots of games, drinking, experimenting with new recipes and zooming with friends. It was fun, for a while. Last weekend, my roommates decided the quarantine was over and…
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Just for fun, we have compiled a list of fun facts about dogs that you probably don’t know! 1. Dogs have 18 muscles in each ear. 2. Dogs have a sense of time and can predict future events, such as regular walk times 3. The average dog is about as smart as a human two-year-old; knowing roughly 250 words and…
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.Purchasing a home is arguably one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. As you start your hunt, don’t forget there will be other costs associated with your purchase then the price of the home. Here are 5 fees to keep in mind as you begin to budget. Home inspection. This is a crucial step in…
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‘MISTAKE’ WHEN CERTIFYING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COULD COST WORKER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS QUESTION: I began receiving unemployment benefits when I was laid off work at the end of March. In late April, my boss asked if I could do a little work from home – but it’s only about 10 hours per week. I didn’t report the work when I…
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Dear Christine I’ve heard stories of other people being at their wits end with husbands, wives, partners and kids driving them nuts during the shelter in place order My living situation is I like with my husband and his younger brother rents a room in our basement. Until the virus we all worked different hours so we didn’t see each…
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QUESTION: I read an opinion piece by a FOX News commentator about the current “protests” online. I liked it on Twitter, and posted my approval of the piece with a link and some comments on Facebook. A co-worker read my post and comments and informed my boss, who owns the company. He said my comments were racist and inflammatory, and…
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BOSS WORRIED ABOUT VIRUS TELLS WORKER, ‘GET ON A PLANE, AND YOU’RE OUT OF A JOB’ QUESTION: I have been planning a trip to Texas in August to attend a family gathering. I booked the flight before the coronavirus shutdown. While I’m still a little worried about a cancellation, so far it looks like the reunion is on. Trouble is,…
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