economy:

For under-employed, life is paycheck-to-paycheck

Justin M. Bowen

Marianne Berger was laid off from her job as a licensed practical nurse at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in November.

By Becky Bosshart (contact)

Saturday, March 28, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Sun business and economy coverage

Marianne Berger looks like a woman who has been caring for others for more than 30 years. Her shoulders are slumped. Her graying hair is pulled back away from her face, which seems weary, but most of all, disappointed.

For the last 21 years, she worked as a licensed practical nurse at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center in central Las Vegas, where her coworkers were like family and she made up to $85,000 a year with overtime and weekend bonuses.

After being out of work for three months, she took a 50 percent pay cut to take a similar job and get back to doing what she loves.

Berger, a union worker at Desert Springs, often worked 60 hours a week at the hospital. She was laid off in November, along with seven other LPNs who worked in direct patient care.

Hospital officials haven't returned calls seeking comment.

"They told us it was for economic reasons but I really don't believe that," said Berger, 50, of Las Vegas. "It would've been different if there was no work for us, but I was still working at least one more day a week and so were some of the other girls."

Her voice is absolute and deep as she quotes facts and figures about her finances without flinching, despite how grim they are.

Unemployment in Clark County continued to inch up to 10.1 percent in February with a record 102,500 workers jobless, the state Department of Unemployment announced Friday.

Staring at dead ends, she applied for jobs beneath her experience level and skill set, far beneath the wage she needed to live comfortably.

She even looked outside of the medical field, but there were no good options.

"Everything they were looking for, they wanted some experience," Berger said. "But I don't know how to do anything except be a nurse. I suppose I could work at McDonald's. I did that when I was a teenager. I thought about going back and learning something else, but there wasn't anything else I wanted to do."

The job loss was especially unsettling because she, like many in the medical field, was told the demand for health care workers would never cease.

Berger is one of the lucky few who found work in her field. In her roughly three months of unemployment, she and her husband (who was also out of work) spent what they had in savings and took money from their 401k accounts.

Now, she's making about $40,000 a year — less than half as much as her previous job paid — at a rehabilitation hospital. She's doing almost the same work, she said.

Cashing out the retirement savings — which shrank to $11,000 after the market crashed — hurt even more because taking money before retirement comes with a penalty. They used the money to pay monthly bills that were more than 2 1/2 times what unemployment was paying.

Her husband, a security guard, is now working part-time.

The Bergers' bills are about $3,600 a month; combined, they're bringing in about $3,000.

Berger said she hopes she can make ends meet close enough to keep her home.

She and her husband have a fixed-rate mortgage on their condo. They bought before the boom years when prices were low, and they didn't refinance. And they're not carrying a balance on the credit card — yet.

The new job not only pays a lower base salary, it also offers fewer opportunities for overtime. She turned down overtime the first time it was offered to meet with the reporter for this story.

"I sure could've used the extra money," she said.

Berger is working about 36 hours a week — including weekends — and doesn't know how she and her husband are going to get by. Her husband wishes his job was full-time, she said.

Like many families in Las Vegas, they'll supplement their income with money from their 401k accounts that had been tucked away for retirement. Berger jokes that maybe she'll die before she would need it.

Like many families in Las Vegas, they'll live paycheck to paycheck.

Like many who have lost jobs, she can only repeat: "It's not fair. I've worked hard all my life."

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or becky.bosshart@lasvegassun.com.

Discussion: 23 comments so far…

By Braedo

3/28/09 at 6:45 a.m.

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I wish I could make $85K a year, and have a home. At age 49, I will never be able to make that kind of money, or have a home. She should be greatful for what she has. There are plenty of healthcare jobs to pick from today, since I am looking for work everyday since July. My monthly exspense is $2,000.00 a month, with rent at $1,300, and paying taxes.
By bdover

3/28/09 at 6:58 a.m.

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This recession is the worst I can remember because it is everywhere. I worked in construction, and worked in 22 different states over the years. Lived in apartments, didn't own a house for 20 years. But because I was single, and could move anywhere, I saved a lot of money. My point is that this recession is scary, and I doubt I could find work now. Luckily, I'm retired. Best of luck to those out of work....
By perry161492

3/28/09 at 8:40 a.m.

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i wrk in construction too yes it very scary were i work at we are going on the 3rd month it still slow. i thank god i have such a great employers i prey for him and his company everyday. i moved here in '92 i was proud to moved here. it totally different now in 2009, i feel this and state gone to hell. thank to our womanizer governor. education sucks now. u have drug dealer and child pornographer as teacher this is sick. th city is head down hill fast it sad. i feel if the senate do not passed this bankruptcy bill this city will collapsed. there will be more foreclosure less property taxes. and company from out will come here. i can on and on.
By stevem

3/28/09 at 9:10 a.m.

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vegas has had booms and busts over the years, but this one seems very different.

i work in property management and every morning i put a simple posting on craigslist that says "looking for a place to rent, give me a call".

in 2007 my phone would ring all day long. in 2008 i got maybe 10 calls a day. now...i am LUCKY if i get 3 calls a day.
By sweetwinner

3/28/09 at 11:14 a.m.

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Are you kidding me?...I can't feel sorry for her. Mrs.& Mr. Berger needs to look at their monthly budget and cut down on their expense.
By ElizabethV

3/28/09 at 11:47 a.m.

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I'm also 49. I am thankful to have a part time job working for a supply company. I don't even bring in enough to rent my own place! I've had to move in to a room at my ex's house. However, I'm thankful to have a job at all. She should be too! I do office work, but there are no positions for me. You do what you have to, but boo-hooing about it? Sorry, if I could bring home $40,000 a year I wouldn't complain...I bring home less than $600 per month, have no car and have to rely on Social Services for my medical care. And I'm very thankful for that! There are people who aren't even doing that well. Shame on her!
By coach

3/28/09 at 1:28 p.m.

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To the people who wished they had made 85,000, well use should gotten educated in right field. and to those people who feel no sorry cause Mariann makes 40,000 a yr now. I say to you first Mariann, hi, i just ran across this article, and saw you, Mariann its Pat, the eeg tech that worked at dsh. Marianne was one of the hardest working lpn's i know. I was working at dsh for 91/2 yrs, i too was laid off, this january. was making right around mariann's salary also. They said i was laid off due to the economy, they out sourced my positions,to a couple 22 yrs old, with no experience, and very low pay. i have been a eeg teach for about 22yrs. i loved my job, and was damn good at it and devoted like no tomorrow. i havent been unemployed in 22yrs. I know no other life but hospital. i dont fit nowhere else. i having a hard time finding a job in my field.you see the people who have devoted there lives to work one job, ow is paying the price, they are hiring people just out of school, to pay less, alot less.I say to Mariann and to others like us , do not lose your faith in God or yourself. This to shall pass, and find peace with this new way of life. i have lost or given up all. I shall be reborn to become better than i was before. but id do want to help sick people, to care for them. so i need to find something in the medical field. soon. weel thanks for listening. god bless miss pat
By coach

3/28/09 at 1:34 p.m.

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sorry for the mistakes in the beginning of my last comment my twin 5 yrs nieces keep calling me, i was trying to say, to all you people who wished you had , or have a job making 85,ooo a yr. well you should have gotten into a better field to earn that kind of money.it was not given to mariann. and the people who dont feel sorry for her , we feel sorry for you. thank again miss riley
By peaceful

3/28/09 at 3:28 p.m.

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Mariann became educated, and worked in a difficult environment because she loved what she did. How dare anyone tell her she should be grateful to be struggling, living paycheck to paycheck, and making less than half what she made before! To the person who makes $600/mo., how would you like to try to survive on half that? It's no one's place to judge how others live and make their hardships out to be insignificant. I wish Mariann all the luck in the world, and hope she can soon find employment making what she's worth.
By fremmasmind

3/28/09 at 9:42 p.m.

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I believe part of the problem is coming from visa card workers from other countries who get paid less than an American worker. During our time of unemployed citizens needing jobs the visa card workers program, the green card workers programs should both be put on hold until our economy takes a turn for the better. These two programs are being abused by corporates who are leaving our citizens with no avenues to obtain work. An unemployed friend told me he's going to Mexico and change his citizenship so he can come back to the U.S. and get work.
By manfromuncle1

3/29/09 at 12:17 a.m.

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If Deidre Hall can get fired from "Days of Our Lives" then NOBODY'S job is safe. If any worker out there thinks that their hours can't be cut or their job can't be eliminated or that our bankrupt economy owes them a living, then what planet have they been living on? Bear Stearns, Lehman Bros, CityCenter, GM, MGM Mirage, $55 trillion national debt, AIG--do health care workers really think they can't be affected by all that? lol
By uddeboda

3/29/09 at 8:40 a.m.

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I certainly do not shed one tear for this woman and her family. If she had had any sense, she could have been saving all the time she was making good money. Both of them bring home $3000 a month, yet spend $3600. Even in these times this is still a lot of money to pay out every month. It is obviously not the condo that is taking the money, so what is??

My own outgoings are nowhere near these figures. I have a mortgage, we run a Mercedes, 2 holidays abroad every year, and I can save money on my pension of $1450 after taxes. Many of you already know where I live, but for those who dont, its Sweden
By fremmasmind

3/29/09 at 9:07 a.m.

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uddeboda, there are different levels of poverty, the more one makes the more one spends. At least we know how much you make. Shouldn't you be saving just a little bit more? Get a partime job? Maybe you should be posting more of your wisdom sooner so people can choose their financial decisions before they make their mistakes.
It's so easy to criticize.
By stevem

3/29/09 at 9:45 a.m.

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adam corolla lost his job when his "base station" switched to a top-40 format.

now, he had a contract so he still gets paid for a few more months, but it shows that anyone can lose their job.
By davidwayneosedach

3/29/09 at 10:40 a.m.

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There are many people doing with a lot less. She is extremely lucky to have a job in healthcare which is in demand all over the U.S.
By goingbust

3/29/09 at 1:03 p.m.

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I can't help but notice that most of the people writing comments in this article about being unemployed or underemployed don't spell very well nor do they use correct grammar.

Coincidence?
By azsk8fan

3/29/09 at 4:11 p.m.

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-

"Well USE should gotten ........" - do you mean the same kind of education you received coach? The same education that enabled you to write the above sentence with such eloquence? Not everyone had the opportunity to go to college and if everyone DID have a college education who would do the lesser, more menial, jobs? If this is your idea of being educated then I'm glad I never went past the 12th grade. That kind of education I can do without.
By rekayaus

3/29/09 at 4:20 p.m.

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I totally agree with Coach and Peaceful. My situation is very similar. I lost everything during Katrina, even my motivation to complete my doctoral program. I went from having no salary to making half of my salary. Now, I'm $15,000 away -still trying to just get back to where I was in salary. I am a very frugal person, always have been. I don't have cable, call waiting, etc and use coupon all the time. Some people will never understand, but I do.
I continue to have faith. I figure this is part of my journey and everything was purged in my life so that I can start over - so I can step out of my comfort zone, live, and to receive the new blessings that are in store for me. Best wishes!
By karebear

3/29/09 at 5:31 p.m.

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Marianne Thank you for 21 years of care. This is outrageous how Desert Springs is treating the employees!! She feels disappointed? How about betrayed?? Did they completly outsource your job? Where is the union in all of this? To just throw away someone who has been there for 21 years for cheap labor? Sounds like unchecked corporate greed run wild to me!! How about the CEO'S work for 1/2 of what they make now? Best wishes Marianne, keep the faith.
By manfromuncle1

3/29/09 at 11:11 p.m.

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To the supporters of Ms. Berger: if you really feel that strongly then call up your medical insurance company and ask them to increase your premiums so that she and other victims of corporate downsizing can continue to make their former salaries. Otherwise, lighten up. Check out today's "Dilbert", where Ted gets "downsized" out of the company, and the boss tells him that his cubicle will be used to store some old binders--which really isn't necessary since the old company records are stored on the internet. lol
By Becky Bosshart

3/30/09 at 10:16 a.m.

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Thanks everyone for this dialogue. I think this is an important issue to discuss: overqualification during a tough job market. Because of recent layoffs, the market is glutted with experienced workers. And, unfortunately, employers are looking to pay less. What's the solution? Do you take a huge pay cut, do you move to a different area that pays more, or do you just stay unemployed?
Berger was candid about her experience and I think we all can respect that.
By karebear

3/30/09 at 1:17 p.m.

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Manfromuncle1 I'm not laughing at all! There are two times when I would like nothing but the best 1: When I am 30,000' up in the air, 2: When my life hangs in the balance, anything to do with the medical field. If I have to I will pay extra for that. Don't know what you do for a living but I hope that your bottom never drops out from under you. I think that the top in any company would be a great place to start cutting. There how's that for you goingbust? Did I get the grammer correct?