At the 13 April 2016 Advisory Council meeting, the Council received two letters from state residents concerning the limitations on work search waivers that took effect this past winter.
The first, a 31 March 2016 e-mail message (originally sent to Sen. Harsdorf), explained:
Hi: I work for a concrete company that lays people off in early winter. I have been there for 10 years and have been laid off every winter since I started. Some winters I’m off longer than others, it just depends on different factors. This year (Dec 18th) I was laid off and longer than other winters, so that brings up the issue.
So with the new regulations in the unemployment I/we are suppose to look for work after 12 weeks. My employer does not like to loose workers (Drivers) because with my companies requirements it’s kind of hard to find drivers without accidents and DWIs and enough experience.
What I am trying to say is,there should be some stipulations put into place for (work search after 12 weeks) I’m on my 12th day over the 12 weeks. I was just informed Tuesday that I’m finally going back this next Monday the 4th. It was up in the air for the last few weeks, due to road restrictions and lack of business. Then to add insult to injury I find out my work truck is in the shop ((due to other drivers using it while on lay off)) and wouldn’t be road worthy for another week.
I did not do the job service thing and in turn I’m going to loose $1110. I was suppose to sign up with [DWD] and start applying @ 4 places a week. I did not do this because, If I was offered a different job I would probably have to turn it down, and I will explain why. I worked a job back in 1995 to 2002 and I left for more $ and I ended up making less than the other job. I should have made $500–$600 more a month but it didn’t work out that way. Hence the phrase (the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence) Since I have good benefits and wages with this job, I plan on staying for quite a while. So as far as the [job search requirements and work search waivers], there should be some changes made. I hope that I made sense… Please reply Thank You.
The second was a letter to the Council received on 28 March 2016:
Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council
I write this letter to each and every one of you, with hope it may do some good for the future beneficiaries, herself included.
My opinion; Whoever wrote and voted for this bill must be brain-dead, or forgot the reason for U.I. Without U.I. there would be many thousands of people on welfare. Do the math, which would be the most inexpensive way to go for the State and the U.S.government?
About me!
In my younger years I had a construction business in the Twin Cities area I struggled for years to build it into a profitable business. Than a recession hit. I was forced to sell. I began a new career with Glastron boat co. and later with Bombardier. Again, another recession. Bombardier closed all its facilities in the U.S. and again I was out of work. I than moved here to northwestern Wisconsin and started a new career with Burnett county Hiway dept. I worked there for 22 years. One day going home from work a lady ran over me on my motorcycle. It took two years to recover and of course I lost my job, as I didnt have enough sick leave to cover two years. I took an early retirement receiving only a small percentage of retirement income I had hoped for. When I was able I tried farming but that was a disaster, with prices what they are.
For the past two years I have worked for a dirt contractor as a dump truck driver. Last year they had there worst year in a decade, so my time was cut in half. My income from them was just over $6000. I filled for bankruptcy in 2015, something I will never get over. Through all of this I can’t recall ever drawing U.I. except for last year and this year. I must have a boatload of money paid on my behalf but yet I only draw $125 a week and have to jump your rope to even get that. Something is drastically wrong here. Its no wonder Donald Trump is so far ahead in the polls. WE NEED A CHANGE, A BIG CHANGE.
Let me tell you how this bill effects me and thousands just like me
I don’t have a computer and don’t even know how to operate one. My nearest job center is 42 miles away. I have signed up with them as requested, that is I think I have. I have had no confirmation of that. I have contacted employers within a reasonable distance. No response as of yet. I have to wonder what they will say when I tell them I have a job?
This, to me, seems like effort and money I don’t have down the drain, too accomplish nothing. Nothing fraudulent here:
I am CONFUSED and ANGRY
P.S. Maybe you should take off your high heels and come here for a couple of days. See how we live!
Notice that in both of these letters neither person has actually received all the unemployment benefits due them because of issues relating to registration at the job center of Wisconsin website, searching for jobs that likely pay less or have fewer benefits than their seasonal laid-off position, or jumping through hoops without feedback about which Department requirements are successfully completed.
In response to these letters, Janell Knutson explained to Council members that the writers of these letters were not asking for any specific changes and so she was just forwarding their concerns to the Council. Council members asked that she write the authors to let them know that the Advisory Council had received their letters.
Wisconsin Unemployment 
The workers are, of course correct. The changes to the U.I. Statute were unwise and unnecessary, because they were based on a false premises-that workers are dishonest and that U.I. is just “Welfare”. Neither premise comes close to being true and especially in Northern Wisconsin has done nothing to help hard working people survive during our State’s enduring Recession. Thanks a lot to those who’s only mission seems to make life difficult for hard working Wisconsinites-perhaps those who voted for these yahoos will begin to connect the dots.