I'm in a bit of a dilemma. As you all know a little over a month ago I was hurt at work. So to make this short story I'm no longer working there. Since then I found a job at a local masonry doing some driving there to make ends meat. I'm not making much but its paying the bills for now

Today I got my workmans comp papers in and what I will be getting from them is only 20 dollars less per week that what I've been making here.

I may be able to collect for a short while. Should I go out on comp and collect until I find another job. This would allow me to paint and focus some time on art as well as figure out what I'm gonna do with life now.

Or should I stay.

What would you do?

Do what ever will make you happiest.

It's clear you love painting so I'd take a break to do some of that, so long as the compo period is valid. I.e. recuperation from your injury to return to the work force at some point

that's a hard dilemma. a steady job over a paycheck with a deadline.

i would probably go with the workmans comp, depending on how long it lasts.
i've never worked in masonry, but low-end grunt work without seniority are the first to get laid off if the company needs to cut back, and with the economy not doing so hot, that possibility isn't a far stretch. hell, i work in a magazine printing factory, and 2 weeks ago the entire plant laid off over half the employees. luckily most workers with higher seniority there are braindead and only knew how to run half the equipment i did, so they got cut instead of me.

but with the workmans comp check, you can shop the job market more, and have more time for the painting!

I would say that if taking the workman's comp opens more opportunities for you, whether it means giving you the time to develop a new skill or find a job that's better than the you have now, then it's worth taking it.

Take the workman's comp.
Take some time off.
Find a better job that you like.
Spend some time painting...so I can get my Deathra.

id say take the comp
and figure out what you want to do

speaking of low end grunt werkers getting laid off
that was me
i werk making conrete pipe and with the gas prices so high they cant send out trucks so there just keeping the bare minimum of werkers
shit sucks but at least i got unemployment to get by
anyway best of luck in your choice

We weren't designed to work our entire lives. I say take some time off to focus on yourself and give you plenty of time to possibly find your "perfect" job.

If you already have another job, doesn't that void your worker's comp claim? Me personally, I'd rather work an honest day (if capable) than sponge off an already abused/broken system.

Give up the meat.

if i'm able... i'd do any job and work under the table while collecting workers comp. fuck the system! more money!

(so you can't stay w/ the company you were previously working for? ... seems odd)

honest days work in an honest system, if only that were true.

Honest system !

And rhino I could have stayed but chose to leave. I hated that job with every once of my soul.

life is short...do what makes you happy and i think painting makes you happy...no?

If you quit your job and stay home to paint I'll buy a custom figure from you. I can't think of a more honorable/honest days work than being an artist.

Your illustrations seemed pretty well done. Maybe take the cash and work on your portfolio, getting some work out into shows and projects.

I never said it was an honest system, far from it, but I earn my money daily without relying on handouts. Sure I've collected unemployment and disability in my life, but a stroke left me half paralyzed. I still worked my ass off in physical therapy everyday and was back to work in two months (I couldn't even tie my own shoes for two weeks), it was the hardest job I ever had.
Do what you want to do, the only person that you have live with at the end of the day is yourself, I could care less either way.

My question is, If you thought collecting workers comp when you have a job was kosher why ask the question in the first place?