Fucking assholes
I work with Employment Insurance — I speak to individuals across Canada who are down on their luck and are looking to recoup some of what they’re entitled to as a Canadian part of our social safety net while looking for new work.
I talk to fishing couples in Newfoundland and Venture Capitalists from Vancouver.
I’ve re-issued paper checks to outposts in Nunavut and spoken to the mistreated humans on reserves, east, west and central.
Life is fucking hard. No one’s special, neither me, you, or the 70 year old welder from Elkwater, AB.
It hurts, hope can be hard to come by and although the legal system is on your side — it can take months for money to be seen.
Although Regular benefits are a large part of the job I also work very dearly and closely with individuals of all situations — maternity, parental and sickness benefits too.
Today I had a painfully human conversation with a woman who shared a situation I have not heard of before.
I never realized how cruel and spineless some people can be.
This woman, who I will make up a name for and call Sherry, has been working as a nurse for more than 30 years in Alberta.
She had a sweet sweet voice, she called because Social Services have put her granddaughter into her care. I wish I would’ve thought ahead and asked for the little one’s name but I was taken back by the story.
Sherry became the guardian of an 8 child because the parents physically abused the child. They hurt the newborn. They neglected the young girl. 3 months into life the child was hospitalized.
The injuries were so severe that 5 months were spent in the hospital.
Fucking cruelty. Negligent. Pitiful.
Sherry is a caring human. Sherry works hard. She helps people.
She called the Employment Insurance line because Canada offers a benefit called Family Caregiver — if someone close to you needs your support and care you can take up to 8 Federally paid months off of work to help.
Sherry is a strong person. She told the story in an almost matter-of-fact way. I am thankful for humans like her, but I despise the fact that we need humans like her.
Good job at being parents. Well done.
