Getting Canned

Essential Advice for Making Money Remotely

October 7, 2020October 7, 2020 by Getting Canned, posted in Global Travel

Today’s guest post comes to us from Cherie Mclaughlin who blogs over at couchbasedbiz.com. Thanks for your contribution Cherie. If you’d like to check out more from her head over to chouchbasedbiz.com

If you are currently out of work or need to boost your income, there’s good news: The internet makes finding work more accessible than ever. And the best part? There are tons of jobs out there that can be done remotely.

However, this doesn’t mean that it’s as easy as Googling your favorite pastime and finding a great-paying job in five minutes. You have to know where to look and what resources are available to you, among other things. So, if you are looking to earn some money, consider the information below.

Finding Work

When you begin your search for job opportunities, it’s important to factor in your interests, skills, and personality. While you may be able to make some money on the side in a line of work in which you have no experience or interest, the chances of succeeding—particularly in the long term—are slim. So, before you settle for that kind of job, be sure to look for one (or more) where you can thrive.

As far as actually finding work, it’s essential to look in the right places, especially for remote work. Start by perusing Freelancer, FlexJobs, Virtual Vocations, and other platforms that post millions of work-from-home jobs. As long as you have the necessary qualifications and provide good work, you can build your brand fairly quickly through such platforms.

Knowing About Resources

As you pursue work-from-home opportunities, especially if you plan to start a freelance or other type of business, keep in mind that there are a lot of resources and online job boards available that can help you succeed. And believe it or not, there are success stories out there by people who decided to try out freelancing! The key is to know where these resources are and how you can access them. For example, research your options for financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find reliable sources for advice concerning how you can incorporate virtual technologies and modify your business during the pandemic.

Paying Taxes

Another thing to consider when you’re figuring out how to make money on the side is that you will probably need to pay taxes on your income, which you will want to plan for. More times than not, side hustles are seen as self-employment by the IRS, and you will need to report it on the Schedule C form along with your personal income tax return.

Depending on how much you make, you should expect to pay taxes, and the amount you need to pay will depend on how much you make. Hiring an accountant is often the most effective way to handle your taxes accurately, not to mention it can significantly reduce stress.

Staying Successful

Finally, you will want to put yourself in a position to succeed in your work. Whether you become an online consultant, a freelance writer, or start an ecommerce business, choosing a job in which you have experience or natural talent is a great first step. But you also need to create a solid routine and set your home up so that you can work productively each day.

Designate a comfortable workspace equipped with a quality desk, chair, and any other necessary furnishings. Make sure you have all the office equipment you need (e.g., computer, printer, fax machine, etc.)., as well as software and tech tools that can help you do your work and/or run your business efficiently. And add some personal touches to your workspace to help you stay motivated, whether it’s putting out your children’s artwork, family photos, or painting the walls a vibrant color.

Opportunities abound when it comes to remote work. Make sure you are looking in the right places and that you stay up-to-date on resources that can help you succeed. Also, remember to make a plan for your taxes, and set your home up so that it helps you work like you need to. In no time, you could be settling into your new remote job or business and laying a foundation for a lucrative future!

The Best in Banking

September 3, 2020August 18, 2022 by Getting Canned, posted in Global Travel

Whether you’re canned in the COVID economy or hustling to build wealth, it’s prudent to choose the best banking available. Here’s what this means to me.

Minimal fees or no fees
Rewards or interest that pay you
Competitive benefits

The Best Checking Account Available

I’ve done a good amount of research on checking accounts and I’m of the opinion that there’s nothing better out there than Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking^® Account.

Here’s why:

ATM fees refunded worldwide
No international fees
No minimum balance
Pays interest on checking
No monthly maintenance fees

When you’re grabbing ramen in Osaka, Japan and pull out cash from your bank, you don’t want to have to pay international fees or ATM fees. With Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking^® Account, you won’t pay international fees and you’ll be refunded ATM fees at the end of the month.

If there’s a better bank out there, I’m happy to hear about it so feel free to share with me at admin (@) gettingcanned.com

If you’re interested in opening an account at Schwab you can do so here and get a bonus with your new account if you use my affiliate link.

Here’s the money you can make when opening an account with my affiliate link based on their site. Just in case you’re interested in some free money.

Net Deposit	Bonus Award
$1,000–$24,999	$100
$25,000–$49,999	$200
$50,000–$99,999	$300
$100,000+	$500

Free money? Why not?

Best REWARDS Credit Card

The credit card rewards game is complicated and everyone may value a different type of reward. I’m a bit less confident this is the absolute best but Capital One’s Venture card is a definite contender for a top-notch rewards card.

Why?

Unlimited 2X Miles with 50,000 Bonus Miles which translates to 2% back on purchases
No international fees
Reasonable annual fee which is waived the first year

Apply here using my affiliate link at no cost to you.

This post contains affiliate links to Schwab and Capital One and I may receive a commission on some sign ups at no cost to you.

Well…I’ve been Canned. Again.

July 21, 2020August 1, 2020 by Getting Canned, posted in Global Travel

The inspiration behind this site is my story of what happened to me in the 2008 financial collapse. The long version is here. The “Reader’s Digest” version is below:

In 2008, I lost my job during what was the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Despite all my efforts to re-enter the job market, I remained unemployed until the fall of 2010.
It wasn’t until I thought outside the box and decide to go overseas and teach English in Taiwan that I finally started earning a wage again. This made for an adventurous life until I returned to the corporate world in 2014. I returned, but I would never be the same.
The short version of my 2008 Financial Collapse story

Well, wouldn’t you know it. I got canned. Again.

In the spring of 2019, I accepted a fantastic job consulting with an analytics firm and a great year followed. But like so many others, I got caught up in Covid19 layoffs at my firm and as a result, I’m now again unemployed. It’s starting to feel like 2008 again. But the difference is this time, I’ve been preparing for this for quite a while.

The unemployment rate in the US is now over 10% rivaling the 2008 financial collapse. Check out this popular gif that circulated back in April

View post on imgur.com

Looks like I’m in pretty good company of other unemployed folks.

So what now?

I’ve got a strong desire to travel the world revisiting favorite places in Asia as well as new destinations like Central and South America and it’s about time I explored Europe a bit. But the current Covid19 situation has put this on hold indefinitely.

For others that are wanting to travel the world and are feeling stuck, I’ve found this website that shows you which countries are allowing tourism. It looks like Ukraine could be open for visitors. Hmmm.

So what about traveling the US?

So maybe travel bans can keep us from visiting other countries but if I’m unemployed and seeking some freedom and travel I think a good old fashioned US road trip may be in order. Mask on and hit the road mostly staying in your car can’t hurt anyone in these challenging times navigating covid19. (How many times have you heard that phrase or something similar)

Where in the USA to go?

Well, plenty of options if I do a road trip. If I do, here are some places that could be on the itinerary:

The Ozark Mountains Jasari / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Puerto Rico is the US which means I could go. Although probably not part of the road trip.

Jeff Kubina – originally posted to **Flickr** as Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
I feel like Hawaii would satisfy the urge to leave your country while remaining in the USA. Probably will need an airplane to make this happen.

Travel Youtube

It’s not in stone but I’m seriously considering picking up a GoPro to capture some of these US and eventually world travel and expand my Youtube beyond the current scope of the McDonald’s Shrimp Burgerin Taiwan. After all, aren’t blogs like this a little stuck in an earlier time?

Quality Vlogging. Look at that old school fried apple pie

Have You Been Canned?

If you’ve lost your job and would like to share your story, feel free to reach out to me by email or in the comments and I’ll be happy to post select stories as well as help get your name out with links to your email or Linked In.

Drones could be saving lives now

March 17, 2020October 30, 2023 by Getting Canned, posted in Featured

The Covid-19 virus continues to grow exponentially. As the potential for quarantines becomes a reality, we’ve seen people rushing to grocery stores to panic buy food. Unfortunately, big groups of people are exactly what we should be trying to discourage to slow the spread of the virus.

Today I ran to the grocery store to pick up a bit more food when I saw frightened seniors walking through the store with dish gloves on trying to protect themselves. This was heartbreaking. I think we should be doing what we can as a society to prevent them from having to do this as much as we can.

Let’s Fire Up The Drones

I’m sure there are plenty of legal regulations and red tape that have slowed the rollout of using drones for delivery but how about we temporarily allow it and start using drones to get groceries?

Amazon had tested drones for delivery some time back.

These drones should be delivering groceries to our at-risk populations now.

Shop for a Senior

If you can help a senior in your area, please do so. If you have a neighbor or family member in your area and can pick up groceries for them. It can save lives than you might realize.

Help someone Order Groceries Online

If you know a senior or someone immunocompromised that is not a big technology user, please look into helping them learn to use online grocery delivery or some type of pick up.

Getting Canned supports the #staythef*ckhome movement.

Could CORONAVIRUS Be the Catalyst for a Work from Home Revolution?

February 29, 2020March 1, 2020 by Getting Canned, posted in Featured, Office Life

By now, you’ve likely heard of the Covid-19 virus or as it’s commonly called, the Coronavirus. It’s spreading exponentially and infecting humans around the world and even potentially a dog.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2,^[8] a virus closely related to the SARS virus.^[9][10][11] The disease is the cause of the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak.^[12][13] It passes from one person to others via respiratory droplets produced from the airways, often during coughing or sneezing.^[14][15] Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between 2 and 14 days.^[16][17]Hand washing, maintaining distance from people who are coughing, and not touching one’s face with unwashed hands are recommended to prevent the disease.^[18] It is recommended to cover one’s nose and mouth with a bent elbow when coughing.^[18]
Wikipedia

The CDC and doctors like Dr. Agus in the video here are saying that it’s no longer a matter of if but when the virus will become local and quarantines will happen.

If you’re looking to monitor the virus counts you can do so here or by checking out the embedded info below.

Work from Home Schedules and the Coronavirus

While this has been horrible news for investors and the stock market has continued to tumble, there could be a silver lining to a pandemic. This could force companies to consider and implement full-time work from home schedules.

The Decision

As the virus spreads and quarantines start to happen, it will become clear that for most, staying at home unless it’s absolutely necessary to leave will be the best course of action to slow the spread. Look to Wuhan to see how the city essentially shut down and people stayed in their homes.

For many workers that have remote work capability, it will become clear that if you can work from home you should. I’m sure company management doesn’t want to responsible for facilitating the spread of the virus and allowing full-time work from home is the best way to prevent that.

Could Government Mandate Work from home?

Governments are definitely concerned with the stability of the economy and keeping as many people working as possible should be a top priority. If an office employee gets sick and spreads it to coworkers, you can end up with entire teams sick and that halts the company.

I could definitely imagine governments mandating companies to implement temporary work from home requirements for all eligible employees in the interest of stopping the spread of the illness and helping to sustain the economy.

Long Term Repercussions

In the event of widespread full-time work from home schedules being implemented, it’s very possible that employers will finally realize the financial benefits that go along with such a setup. The virus could act as a catalyst for change forcing employers to implement policies. If they work well, employers may find little reason to return to the old way of doing things.

Employer Savings

Immediate cost savings reflected in electric bills
Companies may at last consider the savings of closing the office and getting rid of their office leases
No longer needing to maintain a local network and the IT staff that goes with it.
Elimination in office equipment costs
Insurance costs that go along with maintaining an office
Some employees might even be willing to accept a slight pay cut in exchange for working from home full-time which would allow them to cut costs considerably.

Employee Savings

Employers aren’t the only beneficiaries of a full-time work from home implementation. Consider the following:

Elimination of the commute will result in significant fuel savings and with grocery delivery available, many frugal folks may decide to evaluate if they really even need a car anymore.
Reducing the need or desire to eat out for lunch will help us save on food budgets
Less of a need for office-based attire and the dry cleaning bills that might go with it

Societal Benefits

There would be societal benefits to working from home as well. Consider the following changes.

The change in traffic flows could greatly improve the gridlock that occurs during rush hour in the morning and evening.
Significantly fewer cars on the road are likely to have a positive impact on the environment and air we breathe.
We’ll all have a bit more time if we aren’t spending it preparing for work and commuting to work.

How would a full-time work from home schedule benefit you?

What a Temporary Worker in California Should Know

December 2, 2019November 30, 2019 by Getting Canned, posted in Getting Fired, Guest Posts

Today’s guest post comes from Frank Feldman, the PR Media Manager at Stephen Danz & Associates. Thank you for your submission. Any questions can be directed to the firm by following their link above.

Businesses in California and all through the United States, hire hundreds and thousands of temporary workers every year. After all, temporary workers easily translate into significant cost savings, both in the short and the long run. Businesses are also willing to hire temporary workers from their trusted sources (staffing agencies) because such workers are pre-screened and pre-qualified for various job roles. When an organization is growing quickly, is under-resourced or has an urgent, short-term vacancy to fill, it is likely to consider bringing in some temporary workers.

It’s understandable that businesses are looking at improving the bottom-line but on numerous occasions, employers violate the rights of temporary workers. If you are a temporary worker in California, here is what you should know:

What Happens When a Temporary Worker Gets Injured On the Job?

You may qualify for workers’ compensation even if you are a temporary or part-time worker employed in California. Your ‘temporary’ employer will have to pay for necessary medical care for injuries as well as illnesses related to work. In most cases, it’s immaterial who was responsible for the injury.

In the state of California, both the primary and secondary employers are required by law to take all steps necessary to protect temporary workers from workplace hazards. Both of the employers also need to comply with California’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) regulations. Therefore, like all other employers (private and public) in California, they should have an Injury and Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP) in place.

Generally, the primary employer – a staffing agency that hires temporary workers and assigns them to various host employers – assumes the responsibility of covering temporary workers under their workers’ compensation insurance besides performing functions such as recruitment, payroll management, termination, etc.

The primary and secondary employers in California create a contract that clearly defines who will fulfill the necessary workplace safety and health requirements.

Most of the legal issues concerning temporary workers revolve around this contract.

When Can a ‘Temporary’ Worker Become a ‘Regular’ Worker?

There is no specific time limit on how soon a ‘temporary’ worker may be classified as a ‘regular’ worker.

However, your employer could face liability if:

You have been employed as a temporary worker for an extended period
You perform the same set of duties as regular, full-time employees
You have been denied benefits that other, regular employees receive

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Microsoft started hiring a large number of temporary workers. The technology giant was, of course, looking to save money. The company even introduced a badge-system to distinguish temporary employees (orange badges) from permanent employees (blue badges).

At first, it seemed the hiring strategy is working well for Microsoft. The company retained these temporary workers for many years. The legal eagles sensed trouble when these temporary workers tried to participate in Microsoft’s employee discount stock purchase program. Microsoft denied its ‘temporary’ workers the benefit it extended to its ‘regular’ employees.

In 1992, these workers filed a class-action lawsuit against the tech giant. They argued that due to the extended period of employment, they were no longer ‘temporary’ workers. The legal battle went on for eight long years. In the end, the workers won. The company agreed to pay $97 million to settle the class-action lawsuit.

Are Temporary Workers Protected Against Discrimination in the Workplace?

Yes. Both client firms and staffing agencies can be sued for discriminating against the temporary workers in the workplace as per the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC).

Thus, the staffing agencies and the host employers to whom they assign temporary employees cannot discriminate against the employees on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability.

It practically means that a host employer cannot defend discriminatory actions in the workplace with the argument that they are not the primary employer. Similarly, if a host employer asks a primary employer for ‘only Latina women in their early 20s” to fill temporary sales positions during a festive season and the staffing agency does the needful, both the staffing agency and the host employer are liable under federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

How Can A Temporary Worker Report A Problem?

You can report the problem to both your staffing agency and the immediate supervisor at the client firm.

Supervisors at the client firm may say that you cannot have access to the HR department as you are a temporary employee; just tell them you are reporting the problem in writing for their information
f you have reasons to believe you are a victim of illegal discrimination, write your complaint to the appropriate official at the client firm with the title of “Complaint of [Age/Racial/Religious discrimination]”.
If the client firm fails to address the problem, you can speak with an employment law attorney or file a complaint with a relevant government agency
If your immediate supervisor is sexually harassing you, report the matter to the EEOC
If the client firm refuses to pay earned over time, you can report the matter to the Department of Labor

Final Words

All employees, including temporary workers, have rights. If you are a temporary worker and have sufficient reasons to believe your rights are being violated either by the staffing agency or the host employer, you should speak with an experienced employment law attorney in California.

Disclaimer: This is not legal information. No attorney-client privileges are substantiated from this article.

Author Bio

I am writing to introduce myself as Frank Feldman I am the PR Media Manager at Stephen Danz & Associates, one of the largest law firms committed solely to representing employees in their disputes with employers in California.

How I earned $10,000 on Upwork

December 1, 2019March 3, 2020 by Getting Canned, posted in Freelancing and Small Business, Global Travel

The other day I checked my email and realized I got a congratulations email from Upwork. “You earned your first $10,000 on Upwork!” I hadn’t even really been paying much attention to earnings so I was surprised.

Oh wow not bad. But it looks like I’ve been at for three years or so now.

These days I work full time and still do freelance on the side with Upwork and Fiverr to earn extra cash to invest. If you keep up at it, it starts to add up after a while.

So How Do You Do It?

The secret is you need to invest some time into building reviews and a reputation so new clients will feel comfortable taking the risk of hiring you. As such you can’t really expect to make much in the early stages. Note that it took me three years to get where I am.

How the Heck Do You Get Your First Client?

It can be very difficult getting those first clients so the secret to doing that is to provide an almost too good to be true offering at the lowest price you can go.

Some of my initial gigs involved cold calling through a list of potential sales customers for cheap. I worked hard and over-delivered to be sure I’d get good feedback.

It’s a bit of supply and demand to get that initial business. If you provide rock star service for dirt cheap, it’s very tempting for clients to want to hire you and see if you can deliver well for them. Everyone loves a discounted amazing service.

How many monitors does it take to freelance properly? Only you can decide.

So you do this for a while and as you build good feedback you can start to raise your prices and the complexity of projects you’ll work on.

I can understand why some might feel like working for the lowest wage possible in the beginning feels like a suckers bet but you should consider it as simply investing time into building your business.

Oh yeah…Upwork Takes Their Cut

To anyone interested in trying it, you probably have a question of how much Upwork charges to be a freelancer. They generally take 20% of your earnings.

I’m sure some might say this is horribly unfair. After all, you’re doing all the work so why should they get 20%?

20% is reasonable

I believe a 20% commission is reasonable. Here are a few reasons why.

They brought you the business saving you a ton in advertising and all the financial risk that comes with an unsuccessful marketing campaign.
They provide escrow service to help make sure you get paid and they have a feedback system to make sure you get good clients that will treat you fairly.
They handle billing and time tracking or project tracking with their own system

Consider the risk involved in launching your own service. You could spend quite a bit on marketing your freelance services before securing a client. You risk nothing but your time by bidding for gigs on Upwork.

Where would you work if you can work anywhere? Here’s the scene in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam around District 3 if I recall.

I’ve heard horror stories of freelancers spending weeks on a project and delivering their services only to be left in limbo trying to chase down their pay. This is much less likely on Upwork if you choose a client with a good reputation.

You will also spend less time and effort tracking your hours and typing up invoices since Upwork does all this for you.

What’s your ideal place to freelance? I had to fire up the laptop in a Louisa coffee in Taiwan. A great place. Also, check out Cama coffee if you visit. Maybe a bit too close to Wuhan province these days. Stay safe Asia.

Why Are You Promoting Them?

You would think I’m getting paid making some affiliate dough promoting Upwork but as far as I know, they have no affiliate program. I’m just sharing tips because I think it would be helpful for people starring out and I’m all for more freelancers and trying to change the work environment to get us out of offices.

5 Signs You’re About To Get Canned

November 29, 2019November 29, 2019 by Getting Canned, posted in Getting Fired

Are you about to lose your job? If you’re paying enough attention, you can usually read the signs that your days at a company are limited. Companies hired you to do a job and letting you go means they are going to need to find someone else to do the work. Here are five signs you’re about to get canned

1. Your Boss has you make a list

Your boss will set a meeting with you to get a list of your current responsibilities. It will be under somewhat false pretenses as they don’t really want to tip their hand that they are planning to let you go. It might be under the guise of allocating resources or putting you on new projects.

2. THere’s a new hire to “help You”

It might seem like a godsend at first. You’ve got work up to your neck. Suddenly the boss announces there is a new hire and they will be your “back up”. In the event that you take a vacation or are out, your backup can assist with tasks.

But in reality, this new team member is your replacement and you’re training them to do your work.

3. You receive a written or verbal warning

If a company wants to let you go, they tend to feel the need to justify it with a paper trail. A written or verbal warning may be an early indicator that you’re on the path to your termination.

4. You’ve been put on a performance improvement plan

A performance improvement plan or “PIP” for short is a euphemism if ever there was one. It’s the companies way of creating a trail of your missteps to justify terminating you. They really don’t even need a reason to terminate you but this is mostly a way of safeguarding against discrimination lawsuits.

5. You are feeling excluded

At some point prior to being let go, your teammates may get wind that your employment is on shaky ground. A lot of work is about appearances and politics and if coworkers sense you’re a bad seed they will not want to be associated with you.

It’s possible they may be able to sense you’re going to be let go or maybe the boss has asked them to make sure they inform on you if you make any mistakes.

What to do

Start looking for your next job. Alternatively, consider freelancing or taking a break from the grind. You can also read up on filing for unemployment. You also can contact me see about submitting an article to Getting Canned and tell your story.

7 Signs You Don’t Belong in an Office