Unemployment Compensation FAQ: "No, you don't pay into the fund, your employer does."

[Towlie]

I'd like to hear what you think about this basic concept, which I know is not unique to my state. It influences quite a few of the policies across our nation concerning the relationship between employers and employees.

From http://www.floridajobs.org/unemployment/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.doc

Q: I paid into this fund for years so it’s my money.

A: Employees in Florida do not pay into the Unemployment Compensation Fund. There are no deductions made from your wages to finance this program. The program is entirely funded by the taxes paid and reimbursements by the employers in Florida.

Does this make sense to you?

It seems to me that an employee has to do enough work to cover all of the expenses associated with his employment, plus provide a profit for his employer. If he doesn't do that then there's obviously no point in keeping him as an employee; the employer would lose money. Therefore, regardless of whether or not any employment-related expense is listed on the paycheck stub, it's still an expense that the employer pays for with his work.

I say the questioner in the FAQ excerpt above is right: It is his money.

What do you think?